Council here heard on June 11 that the zip lining equipment is nearly installed for One Axe pursuits to offer its thrills regularly at the gorge.
Parks and recreation director Andy Goldie told council June 11 the equipment is being installed and tested and the anchors are now in.
In ziplining, people are clipped to a rope and swung out over the gorge.
Goldie said owner Frederick Schuett has an approved platform, and he expects the operation will commence in early July.
Councillor Fred Morris noted there had been one complaint about the township’s agreement with One Axe.
That was from Louise Cako, who lives on Moir Street. She said over the past 42 years her family has been able to walk down the street and “enter a kind of natural, peaceable kingdom. These spaces have always been accessible, well maintained and in the past year, in the case of Victoria Park, beautifully and intelligently improved.”
But, she said, it appears those in charge of the parks are now being inundated by commercial operators with requests to use that natural space, and the need for controlling them is increasing.
She said her objection is “the fear and suspicion that the park spaces will be used more and more as sources for revenue by private interests, without regard to environmental impact. The Shangri-La that we enjoy now will eventually become a Disney World.”
Cako noted in the past One Axe came only on weekends and is now expanding, and has expanded from one location to another.
“The yellow tape that cordons off the public spaces of the natural path has increased two fold,” she wrote in her letter to council.
“As a taxpayer and a total fan of our parks, it seems I am ringing a warning bell.”
Goldie said Schuett had met with Cako to discuss her concerns, and added that at a public meeting on the issue, she was the only person to have concerns.
“Council is aware she is not pleased this is happening,” he said.
