Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Cobourg Marina manager of waterfront operations Paul Gauthier and waterfront operations supervisor Julie Behan-Jones came to Cobourg council Monday to share the good news – Clean Marine status.
The Clean Marine certification was awarded following evaluation of the marina by Greenleaf Environmental Communications Inc. that resulted in a rating of five Green Leaf Anchors (based on an overall eco-rating checklist score of 93.2%). Only three marinas got that rating, Gauthier said, and Cobourg was only the second community in the history of the program to get the five anchors on its first audit.
“They evaluate more than 220 environmental practices,” Gauthier said.
These practices fall under six parameters – environmental management and policies, water quality and habitat preservation, hazardous-materials handling, water conservation, energy efficiency and waste reduction. The report Gauthier distributed describes highlights in each category for which the marina was recognized, as well as specific recommendations from which the marina would benefit.
Behan-Jones said they undertook this initiative after working hard to make environmental improvements to the waterfront. The Clean Marine program is one of the longest-running programs of its kind, she said, and the largest one for marinas in the world.
“Thank you for your work, not just maintaining our reputation as one of the best marinas on Lake Ontario, but improving it,” Mayor Gil Brocanier said.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
