Vision 2010 Walkabout A Great Eye Opener: "It's an Architectural Jewel on the Waterfront"

On Friday July 21, 2006 – Members of the Vision 2010 Stakeholder Liaison Committee (SLC) joined engineering, architecture and landscape architecture consultants for a "Walkabout" around the Vision 2010 planned project.

The SLC was set up as part of the consultation process started by Cameco, through Gartner & Lee consultants, in 2005, and it is a means whereby the community can not only follow the progress of this major project but can also provide valuable input. "It's a key part of our community involvement process," said Aldo D'Agostino, project manager for Vision 2010. "This is a huge undertaking and we want the community to be a part of it," said D'Agostino, "and as one SLC member said, 'It is an architectural jewel on the waterfront.'"

On that July morning, the plan was to walk around the periphery of the Port Hope Cameco plant, discuss the changes proposed for the property both inside and outside the facility; offer suggestions for property enhancements; and have an opportunity to visualize new viewscapes based on the transformation of the site. The focus of the walkabout was on some of the key visual, recreational, naturalization and access planning objectives that emerged from the Vision 2010 consultation process:

• Maximizing positive visual impact and site appearance – greenspace and landscaping
• Maximizing naturalization opportunities and environmental design features
• Creating a 'circle of green' around the site
• Improved recreational use of the area / access
• Connection to the Waterfront Trail
• Features (lighting, public art, destination features, etc.) that link to heritage/educational concepts
• Reconnecting with the West Beach/harbour

Using the map of "Option A" as a guide, the group toured around the perimeter of the property. "Option A" was created as a starting point for the Vision 2010 public consultation process. It is one of four sketches that provided broad-stroke options for achieving operational efficiencies and improving site aesthetics following the removal of legacy waste through the Port Hope Area Initiative.