News release

OHV Trail Funds Allocated

Health Promotion and Protection (March 2006 - Jan. 2011)
Natural Resources (to July 2018)

NOTE: A list of the organizations receiving funding for off-highway trail development follows this news release.

Off-highway vehicle (OHV) operators will soon have access to 365 kilometres of new or upgraded snowmobile, all-terrain and multi-use trails across Nova Scotia, thanks to funding from the Off-highway Infrastructure Fund.

Health Promotion and Protection Minister Barry Barnet and Natural Resources Minister David Morse have approved use of $580,947 from the fund for 22 trail-development projects.

"These projects are the first to be cost-shared by the Off-highway Infrastructure Fund, which was established specifically to help build safe and accessible places for responsible users to ride," Laurie Cranton, chair of Nova Scotia's Off-highway Vehicle Ministerial Advisory Committee, said today, Sept. 4.

Each year when off-highway vehicle owners register their vehicles, they contribute $40 to the infrastructure fund. It is through these contributions that a system of trails will be made available.

The ministerial advisory committee -- which includes representatives from a cross-section of groups, including off-highway vehicle riders, landowners, environmental awareness groups and the health community -- developed and oversees the process that organizations must use to qualify for infrastructure funding. The committee refers recommended projects to the two ministers who must approve the funding allocations.

Trail projects can receive up to 50 per cent of a project's total cost, usually up to $50,000, from the infrastructure fund. Projects must meet conditions, like avoiding vulnerable areas and contributing to environmental protection, making the most of existing infrastructure, and encouraging shared use where appropriate.

"This fund is financed by OHV users for OHV users," said Mr. Cranton. "Members of the ministerial advisory committee have carefully scrutinized the applications to help ensure that these users are getting the best possible value for their money. We are very pleased with the caliber of this first group of projects."

Sixty per cent of the approved projects will develop and upgrade trails managed by multi-use organizations, 28 per cent will go towards trails managed by snowmobile clubs and 11 per cent for trails managed by all-terrain vehicle clubs.

Mr. Cranton said the advisory committee is looking forward to receiving more applications for funding as groups become more familiar with the process. The next deadline for applications will be in early 2008.

"The Off-highway Vehicle Infrastructure Fund provides groups with real opportunity to improve trails in their communities. Sharing development costs in this way will help ensure that off-highway riders in Nova Scotia have safe and appropriate places to ride for years to come."

For information on trail-development financing and applications for future OHV Infrastructure Fund trail development, see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/ohv/fund.asp .

Following is a list of trail-development projects which will receive support from the trails program of the Off-highway Vehicle Infrastructure Fund:

ATV Projects:

  • Central Nova ATV Club: $40,0000 for a project that will construct a multi-use trail on an abandoned rail line between Springfield and Nictaux, Annapolis Co.

  • Chignecto and Area ATV Club Society: $3,697 to maintain and resurface four water crossings in Cumberland County.

  • Cumberland County Riders Association: $23,000 to develop multi-use trails in Fenwick.

Snowmobile Projects:

  • Annapolis Valley Lake and Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club: $16,500 to replace a bridge along the rail-trail over Skinner Brook, Kings Co.

  • Annapolis Valley Lake and Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club: $25,000 to construct and maintain trail from Morristown to North Alton.

  • Antigonish SnoDogs: $2,500 to ditch a section of trail and replace culverts near Brown's and Eigg's mountains.

  • Ceilidh Trails Groomers Association: $3,850 to undertake major repairs and repair to BR 160 Groomer and Drag in central/south Inverness County.

  • Chignecto Glooscap Snowmobile Association: $3,500 to re-deck existing water crossings in the areas of River Hebert, Southampton, Parrsboro and Advocate.

  • Crossburn Snowmobile Club: $21,000 to upgrade a trail and bridge along the Annapolis River in Middleton and Crossburn, Annapolis Co.

  • Dalhousie Mountain Snowmobile Club: $5,000 to repair and improve trails in Pictou County.

  • Highland Trail Groomers Association: $3,000 to haul and spread rock fill on trail surface near Plateau and Cheticamp.

  • Snowmobilers Association of Nova Scotia: $50,000 to support the association's signage program.

  • Sutherlands Lake Trail Groomers Association: $4,900 for trail repairs, to cut brush and improve drainage in Cumberland and Colchester counties.

  • Sutherlands Lake Trail Groomers Association: $13,000 to replace a deteriorated bridge with a culvert and secondary drainage near Westchester Mountain.

  • Sutherlands Lake Trail Groomers Association: $17,000 to replace a wooden bridge on the main corridor trail No. 104 in Colchester County.

Multi-Use Projects:

  • Annapolis County Trails Society: $48,000 to develop, manage and maintain 15 kilometres of trail along the rail-trail from Mt. Hanley Road to Wilmot at Kings Annapolis county line.

  • Association Sentierde Clare Rail to Rail: $34,000 to work on Belliveau River bridge along a 44-kilometre rail-trail in Clare.

  • Bear River to Sissiboo Trails Association: $50,000 to work on the Bear River Bridge to the Sissiboo Bridge (46 kms) along the former Dominion Atlantic Rail line in Digby County.

  • Colchester Trails Association: $49,000 to resurface and provide drainage for the 25-kilometre multi-use trail along the North Shore Colchester "Shortline" Rail bed from Pictou County boundary to Cumberland County boundary.

  • Cole Harbour Parks and Trails Association: $18,000 to help complete the multi-use trail in Shearwater, Eastern Passage and Halifax Regional Municipality.

  • Yarmouth County Trail and Development Association: $50,000 to help develop the former rail line into a multi-use trail in Yarmouth.

The following project is a one-time emergency allocation from the general revenues of the Off-highway Vehicle Infrastructure Fund:

  • Cape Breton Island Pathways Association: $100,000 to assist with immediate repairs to a section of rail-trail where the bank is in danger of washing away, which would cause the loss of the entire trail surface.

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