(quote)
The North Carolina Aquariums submitted a proposal to the new North
Carolina Waterfront Access and Marine Industry (WAMI) Fund on
November 1 for funding to proceed with the development of three State
ocean fishing piers that will be owned and operated as satellite
facilities of the North Carolina Aquariums at Roanoke Island, Pine
Knoll Shores, and Fort Fisher. The Town of Emerald Isle is pleased
to announce that it is partnering with the North Carolina Aquariums
for the central coast pier that will be operated in conjunction with
the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The NC Aquariums' WAMI Fund
proposal seeks a total of $4 million for the coast-wide effort, with
approximately $2 million of this request earmarked as initial funding
for site planning, design, permitting, and site improvements for "The
Aquarium Pier on Emerald Isle".
The Town of Emerald Isle and the NC Aquariums have been working
cooperatively for the past 18 months on strategies to insure the
perpetual existence of an ocean fishing pier on North Carolina's
central coast. "The Aquarium Pier on Emerald Isle" project outlined
in the WAMI proposal is the result of considerable research,
analysis, and discussion over that time, and the two partners are
eager to move forward with the project. The proposed project
involves the transfer of the Town's Eastern Ocean Regional Access
facility, located oceanfront at mile-marker 15 on NC 58, to the NC
Aquariums to be the home of the new facility. The 4.2 acre site is
the former home of the historic Emerald Isle Pier that was dismantled
after the hurricanes in 1996, and has since served as a major public
beach access for the area. This property is valued at approximately
$5.5 million, and will be transferred by the Town to the NC Aquariums
at no cost.
The new ocean fishing pier and related facilities will be modeled
after a similar project currently underway in Nags Head involving the
NC Aquarium at Roanoke Island, with "The Aquarium Pier on Emerald
Isle" operated as a satellite facility of the NC Aquarium at Pine
Knoll Shores. The pier will be constructed primarily from concrete
to enable it to withstand future hurricane activity, and will jut
1,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. A new, first class pier house
will be constructed and will include a tackle shop, food service,
public meeting spaces, NC Aquarium exhibits, and other amenities.
The project also calls for the construction of a smaller sound-side
pier on Bogue Sound across from the new ocean fishing pier. Total
design, permitting, and initial site improvement costs are estimated
at $2 million, which would be funded by the WAMI proposal submitted
on November 1. The Town of Emerald Isle's land contribution is
valued at $5.5 million, and the total estimated construction cost is
$12.2 million. The remaining construction cost will be funded
through a combination of NC Aquarium admission receipts, future grant
requests, local government contributions, and a private fundraising
campaign. The proposal calls for construction of "The Aquarium Pier
on Emerald Isle" to begin in 2010, with the new pier complete and
open to the public in 2012.
"We are excited about this partnership with the NC Aquariums", said
Mayor Art Schools. "We believe the project will provide tremendous
benefits for North Carolinians for generations to come. The project
will provide recreational fishing benefits, further the Aquarium's
mission to enhance the public's understanding and appreciation of the
aquatic environment, add to the area's strong tourism economy,
maintain public beach access, provide accessibility for handicapped
individuals to enjoy the ocean, and provide opportunities for marine
research and data collection." "Public ocean fishing piers remain
threatened by escalating coastal real estate values, and it is
important for the State and local governments to take action to
insure the perpetual existence of piers along the North Carolina
coast." NC Aquariums Director David Griffin echoed the Mayor's
comments and added, "We are excited about our partnership with the
Town of Emerald Isle, and look forward to working with the Town on
this important project. The Emerald Isle pier project and our other
two pier projects are a logical intersection of the NC Aquariums'
mission and the need to preserve the ocean pier experience for
current and future generations of North Carolinians. "
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Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny
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