A boat launch near Meridian Beach and Raven Shores has received a $300,000 face-lift thanks to Ponoka County.
Charlie Cutforth, CAO for the county said crews worked diligently last week to finish the boat launch so it will be ready for the upcoming season.
“We rebuilt it in its entirety,” he said. “It was breaking down and we had had lots of complaints.”
The county received approval from the appropriate government agencies to go ahead with the re-construction of the boat launch. Special care was taken to ensure fish were protected during the construction.
“It was quite an involved process,” said Cutforth.
The boat launch, which lies between Meridian Beach and Raven Shores, at the end of Meadowbrook Road is very well used and Cutforth said county council wanted to ensure it was upgraded to a high standard.
Ponoka County has budgeted another $600,000 to upgrade the other public boat launch which is located on the west side of the lake off of Westlake Road, south of Poulsen’s Pasture.
The design of this boat launch is complete, but approvals have yet to come through.
Cuthbert said it could be late spring or early summer before this boat launch is completed.
The county also plans to rebuild and pave a portion of the road leading to the boat launch.
As well as the public boat launches, there are two private launches on Gull Lake.