Centre Wellington township is ready to extend approval for One Axe Pursuits’ zipline operations in Victoria Park, but has also proposed increasing its share of ticket sales.
Parks and facilities operations manager Matt Tucker’s report to Centre Wellington’s committee of the whole on April 18 recommended councillors extend the operation to Dec. 31, 2018, based on existing terms and conditions, with an adjustment to the financial contribution to the township per zip line ticket from 4% per ticket to a financial contribution of 10% per youth ticket sold and 7% per adult ticket sold.
Tucker noted, “One Axe Pursuits has been providing a service of rappelling, ziplining and ice climbing since 2008 in Victoria Park, Elora.”
When these activities happen in the park the township receives a payment from One Axe Pursuits. Since that time the cost for the park rental has gone up 11%.
Tucker noted that in 2012 One Axe agreed to organize and set up a pay-per-ride zipline that would start behind the Elora Community Centre and travel across the Irvine gorge into Victoria Park.
The intent of the zipline across the gorge was to offer a thrill ride for residents and tourists, set up as a trial and starting operation in 2013.
In addition to the payment for park use, an additional contribution to the township was established based upon ticket sales.
The payment at the time was broken up so that One Axe would receive 96% of payment per ride while the township would receive 4%.
Since then, One Axe has realized a need to provide a price difference for youth and adult tickets for ziplining in order to attract customers.
Councillor Don Fisher asked whether One Axe gets access to a portable toilet in the park.
Community services managing director Brian Detzler said that as of the last season, the facilities were brought in.
Fisher asked if it would be permanent … or as long as One Axe remains in operation there.
Detzler said there was nothing in the budget to install anything more permanent.
“Because of the amount of activity from both public patrons of the park and those using the ziplines, we decided to install it.” He noted the township would continue to monitor usage.
“We are finding the facilities are required. Before then, people were still relieving themselves, just not in the proper location,” said Detzler.
Councillor Fred Morris said unless One Axe has increased ticket prices, the company will see decreased revenues under the new arrangement.
He asked whether these new terms have been discussed with and accepted by One Axe.
Detzler said part is due to ticket price changes One Axe found it needed to implement.
He said the company has found with its new pricing, activity has actually increased.
“While ticket prices went down, activity increased therefore the overall revenues went up,” Detzler said.
He added that One Axe has agreed to the new revenue sharing agreement.
