By KYLE REA TIMES-JOURNAL

After five years of wrangling, Port Stanley harbour now belongs to Central Elgin, an "historic deal" that will result in grand things for the village, said Mayor Tom Marks.

Wednesday, the federal government officially divested the harbour to Central Elgin -- 64.5 hectares as well as two breakwaters, two piers and the former Olmstead building.

The land includes the east berm and a narrow piece of land leading to the west pier.

The federal government is also handing over $13.6 million to cover operational costs and maintain the port's infrastructure.
"No community that has taken control over its harbour has ended up with a better deal," Marks said.

"It's historic because of the opportunity for Port Stanley harbour to be a catalyst for economic development, the opportunity for Port Stanley to re-ignite tourism, the opportunity to use the harbour to build the kind of community we want, the opportunity for Port Stanley harbour to bring the community together like never before.
"It may not be everything that everyone wanted, but it's enough to make the harbour lands an asset, a community development that's not a burden on the taxpayer. That was our goal from the beginning and it has been accomplished," Marks said.

Transport Canada, which owned the harbour, has assumed liability for current environmental issues.
Negotiations between Central Elgin and Transport Canada date back to 2005.

Conservative MP Joe Preston acknowledged it took a long time -- interrupted by elections and new cabinet ministers.
"It's important to do it right, not do it fast, so that when the community does own the harbour, the harbour belongs to the people, and that it is the right thing to do," he said. "It belongs to our children and their children and their grandchildren. It belongs to the community."
Now that the harbour is owned by Central Elgin, plans for a park on the east berm and public access to the west pier, can proceed. Those plans were outlined in public consultations in late 2009 and earlier this year.

Marks was bursting with enthusiasm about the harbour's opportunities, referencing Tom Patterson who started the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the 1950s with only a small grant.

"We have far more than Tom Patterson started with in any way. We now own the harbour lands, we have the power to direct how they develop. We have enough money to keep the harbour open for recreational craft, we have enough to develop the east berm into a place for families to visit and to maintain existing breakwaters to extend the west pier."

Marks said there's plenty of work to do, including environmental work, additional planning and construction that could take several years.
"We're just turning the page, we haven't got the answer yet. It'll be developed as we go."

In the meantime, that federal cash generates interest for Central Elgin to the tune of $750 a day or $274,000 a year.

Marks acknowledged the efforts of past mayors, including Sylvia Hofhuis, who died earlier this year after a long illness.

"In so many ways, this is bittersweet, but all of council was united to achieve this goal."