Second cruise ship berth in Sydney to feature helicopter pad

CBRM council has approved the addition of a helicopter pad for the Sydney waterfront’s new second berth which is expected to completed by the end of the year. The new helipad will cost about $96,000 and is expected to expand tourism opportunities in Cape Breton. - David Jala

SYDNEY, N.S. — The Sydney waterfront is getting a helipad.

CBRM council has approved a motion on Wednesday to fund the helicopter landing pad that will be constructed as part of the second cruise ship berth project presently underway on Sydney harbour.

According to CBRM engineering and public works director Wayne MacDonald, the latest quotation on the cost of building the helipad amounts to almost $96,000, just shy of the $100,000 council approved for the project addition. The cost includes $50,000 for the helipad construction, $26,000 for fencing and an electrical conduit and $7,500 for contingency.

The motion to finance the sub-project was accompanied by letters of support from tourism industry providers including Breton Air, Cabot Links, Glenora Distillery, The Lakes golf resort and Ambassatours, along with promotional organizations like Destination Cape Breton Association, Sydney Downtown Development Association and the Port of Sydney.

Mayor Cecil Clarke said the helipad will be another selling point for the port which is expecting a banner cruise ship season in 2020.

“The helipad is another tool in our chest of opportunity for promoting and marketing our community,” said Clarke.

“I think it puts us in a competitive position as I think we’ll be the only cruise terminal in eastern North America to have a helipad associated with the two terminals.”

The mayor, a longtime champion of port development, said the new facility will also open up opportunities in terms of passenger and logistical support.

“Whether it is a life flight, natural resources, or RCMP helicopter services, it just opens up safety and security opportunities,” said Clarke.

“And from a tourism point of view, it gives us an added feature that will help with the over 75,000 more passengers coming next year who will be looking for more opportunities.”

One of the beneficiaries of the new helipad may be Breton Air, a helicopter charter service that is now flying and whirling about the skies of Cape Breton.

In a recent letter of support to council, Breton Air chief executive officer Parker Horton said he expects the helipad to be an economic driver for the community.

“This capability will increase accessibility and options for visitors to our port – the clients who are utilizing the services of Breton Air are forecasted to be in the tradition big spender market,” said Horton, a Prince Edward Island native, a logistics specialist who like business partner and pilot Matt Wallace was in the Canadian Air Force.

“The helipad will also stimulate the local economy organically from non-cruise ship visitors and locals alike. The helipad itself is located on an iconic piece of property and will draw in visitors to simply see the helicopter in operation and/or partake in a flight.”

He said he expects the new pad to help facilitate his company’s purchase of a third helicopter. Horton also said the Port of Sydney receives a fee every time the pad is used.

Meanwhile, work continues on the second berth with scores of locals stopping daily on the nearby road to check out the progress of $20-million project. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. The municipality expropriated the land but an arbitrator has yet to determine how much the CBRM will have to pay the former owner of the property.

Still few public details on potential valuation of Sydney harbour second berth property