Huntsville Councillors were told at the January 28 General Committee meeting that repairs to the Brunel Locks are estimated at $2.1M.
Staff recommended that the repairs be spread out over two phases and asked Huntsville councillors to approve Phase 1 this year, at an estimated cost of up to $100,000. The $100,000 would come out of the parks reserve fund, with the remainder being included in the 2027 budget.
Tina Scott-Burns, Manager of Parks & Cemeteries for the Town, told councillors that staff were hoping to apply for a grant/s that could bring down the cost to the municipality by half.
The work, based on a comprehensive inspection conducted by Ellis Engineering Inc. last year, would be split as follows:
Phase 1: 2026 – These smaller repairs could be completed without having to close the Locks in 2026. An engineer would be engaged to perform the design work and provide contract administration and engineering services throughout the project, noted Scott-Burns in her report.
- Replace Cover Plate Bolts at Access Shafts
- Replace Anchor Bolts at Valve Brackets
- Replace Timber Lock Gate Seals
- Drill Holes in Vertical Steel Posts
- Reconstruct Interlocking Brick Walkways
Phase 2: 2027
- Clean and Coat Structural Steel
- Replace Northwest Timber Retaining Wall
- Replace Southwest Timber Retaining Wall
- Replace Southeast Timber Retaining Wall
- Visual Inspection – above-water portions
- Comprehensive Inspection of Structure
Scott-Burns noted that the more significant repairs would be done during Phase 2 and would result in the closure of the Brunel Lift Locks for the 2027 season. Below is a summary of boat traffic at the Locks in 2025, broken down by month.
Huntsville Councillor Bob Stone expressed concern. He spoke to the traffic numbers in 2025 and said that presumably the number of trips involves going to and from a specific destination. “So logically, 240 people use the Locks 480 times.” He said he struggles with the cost, and while he agrees with the park component, he questioned the high cost of repairing the Locks for the small number of users. “I have no trouble with the $100,000 in the 2026 budget, but I don’t think I can commit to anything beyond that, myself,” he said.
Councillor Monty Clouthier reminded councillors that earlier in their term, council tried reducing hours at the Locks as a cost-saving measure, and it didn’t work due to the backlash. “So to come and say ‘OK we’re not going to have Locks there anymore…’ is going against our word that we’ve already said that we’re going to use them.”
Clouthier said the Locks are a historic part of Huntsville. “It’s part of our heritage and heritage costs money.” He said the issue related to repairs keeps getting pushed forward. “I think we have to make the decision to get this done before things start falling in the water on us… I’m fully, fully supportive of doing what has to be done,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Dan Armour agreed. He said he is hopeful that the municipality can secure grant money and said he supports the project. Councillor Helena Renwick agreed that the Locks is a historic component of Huntsville and said council needs to definitely look at grants and its repair.
Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock said she understands Stone’s concerns, but also said it is part of Huntsville’s heritage. She also suggested a communication strategy to increase its usage.
Councillor Cory Clarke said he supports spending the $100,000 as part of the 2026 budget. He also recalled when council tried to cut back Lock hours. “I think through that whole process we realized how important the Locks really are to our community and the residents, so I think it’s important that we look after what we own.” He said applying for grants is an important part of the project, and said hopefully the municipality is successful.
Councillor Dione Schumacher also said she was comfortable with spending the $100,000 and said the cost of the project could decrease with grants. She also suggested that more opportunities could be generated to increase usage.
Stone said he does not disagree that the Locks is part of Huntsville’s heritage. “I think it’s part of who we were and who we are. I think it’s politically easy to say ‘we’ll talk about it in the next term.’ We’ve also been elected to be fiscally responsible, too, and two million dollars is a huge amount of public funds, so I struggle with it. If the motion is to approve Phase 1 and propose Phase 2 in the budget for next term, then I can go along wih that but when it comes right down to it, if we don’t get the 50 per cent grant, at that time, if I’m still around, I don’t know that I could stomach that big number…,” he said
Councillor Jason FitzGerald, and chair of that portion of the meeting, reminded councillors that they were voting only for Phase 1, up to $100,000 from the parks reserve fund. In the end, councillors unanimously voted in favour.
Want to dig deeper? You can find the staff report HERE.
RELATED
Brunel Locks in need of repairs and an overall assessment say staff
Huntsville council votes against reducing hours of operation for Brunel Locks
Committee approves reduction in hours of operation for Brunel Locks in 2023
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
I agree with Allen Markle about having staff that should be able to figure things out without hiring consultants. But we must remember that if you hire a consultant and something goes wrong, that it is the consultants fault, not the staff’s fault. Good way to protect your job. Just look at the bridge in Bracebridge. The district had an engineering firm check out the bridge, then the next winter a person driving a snowblower for the town discovered a fault. No one from the district was held accountable. You must also remember that municipalities (upper and lower) have an an easy source of financing……..TAXES.
There may be photos of the lock being used as a drydock area. There are certainly written references of lake boats, including the Algonquin using the Lock area as winter quarters. Stowed on keel and bilge blocks, they were free of the crushing ice of winter. I have a feeling there are still stop-log guide slots in the upper channel. Two sets I think, Above the little swing bridge. Stop logs here, dried out the lower lock channel. I believe that the guide slots were removed from below the lower gate. A simple coffer dam would serve the purpose.
If someone were to check they might find that the lock and gate areas can still be dried out (they can be if you want to do it) and work can proceed during the fall and winter. Check out a few of the seniors who have lived and worked in the area, and you might find a lot of useful information. I can think of a couple such people.
The whole thing has been repaired before and there is no real reason for any “The sky is falling” panic if it needs to be fixed again.
I think contractors use the million dollar price as a starting point with the town and its’ staff. Just to spread panic amongst the staff. It seems to work every time. And then you call in a bunch of consultants and advisors. Thought that was what we pay this local staff for. Ordinary people figured it all out in bygone days but today we hire out.
C’mon Huntsville. It’s our heritage and our responsibility. See if you can figure it out too. Our grandfathers did. And look at all the free advise from John Leadston and Vernon Vince. Saved 20 grand right there.
As a project manager, I question what the price tag is based on. Time of year the work is done? What about using cofferdams to isolate the locks in the off season so they can be de-watered and conduct repairs and replacements then? Some of this can be done in phases to measure and pre-fabricate modular pieces for faster installation. Always get a second or third opinion. Ellis Don’s estimate for the visitor centre in Arrowhead park was off by $1 million so they redesigned it to make it smaller. Now its too small. They also had issue with the construction of the Sky Dome (Now the Rogers Centre) if anyone remembers. The cost to the tax payer doubled. I’ve seen the same thing happen with way over-priced bridges. Poor design with many gaps that create a need for change orders that up the cost. Contractors know this is where the profit is.
Two million dollars today is just peanuts. Keeping the locks maintained could prove important not just for the few using it. Even though I see boat traffic there every time I visit. In case of emergency and a possible exit, for a few it does provide a route for safety and even a way to get to the hospital.
Keep it maintained and less complaining.
I will allow that the numbers should speak for themselves. But I do remember that our council told us it was “bad air” that caused us to lose a train station. I visited the site a few times and saw not one mask or one suit of “haz-mat” gear in use by anybody. I wrote at the time the bad air was likely much the same as one would inhale around a field of cattle. BS!
The canal and lock were the projects of a fledgling nation. The dam, canal, and lock were a means to bring easier travel, freight and people to this frontier. They threw in a bridge to boot. Mr. Fetterly had to put up with a lot of government construction, but in the end he got a fine dam to supply the head of water for his saw and grist mill. There’s a lot of history in that stretch of river.
History and heritage seem to carry weight in Gravenhurst. The Provincial Conservatives have popped for a million plus on top of the money they already anted for that project. Maybe MPP Smith could help our councilor with funding for this project. And relief from a pending stomach problem. Good photo op too and in a prime location.
My grandfather and my son both worked the gates at the Locks. A whole lot of others would be around to lend a shove. And I’m sure there were a lot more boats through in a season than these numbers suggest. For sure times change. Those numbers seem to infer that down-river and Port Sydney people don’t run up to Huntsville any more. And is there nothing on Mary Lake to draw boaters down-river? Curious.
Things need repairs. Two million is a big number. But does everything old get trashed, because as one councillor puts it “I don’t know that I could stomach that big number.” Just this time? Or for just this project? Well sir you better learn to stomach big numbers ’cause you add one every year. And what happens should the Feds decide that our dams and the canal are too old to repair? Would it be okay should they bail on them too? Or would there be a lot of shouting going on?
The ‘Locks’ have been there all my life. I guess it’s and touch point for lots of us who grew up here. It would be hard to lose it. Sentimental I know. What is council’s proposal should they not repair it? And what will that cost? I would be interested to hear that. I’m sure they will do what they will do.
Brandon Peek: I remember when your road was a dirt track. Little gravel and no paving. And as far as roads go, get in line. We all have stories about crushed shoulders and pot holes.
Dare I say the locks operate with a “user fee”? It’s for the enjoyment of so few yet comes from everyone’s pocket? It’s a wonderful historical part of Huntsville but times have changed and now it’s a luxury.
Why can’t that work be done between October and June which is the closed season considering they work on the Soo locks ,well and locks during the off season January to March just curious thanks
Ah, yes. $2.1M to refurbish locks used by 241 people. Meanwhile every time I leave my home I get to spend 3km on roads (South Waseosa – a road that up to 2023 was paved, now gravel) rougher than most logging roads in Algonquin park. Maybe redirect some funding to the re-paving of Waseosa so residents don’t need an alignment and suspension work every 6 months.
Maybe, at the same time, the river area could be developed with a standing wave surf attraction!
That’s a huge chunk of change to be asking town residents to come up with in these days when a lot are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads!
But I’m sure the 240 boat owners will be happy to cover the costs!
I sure can’t help with phase 2 next year. Im just making my bills and groceries. You need 2 million? I cant see it. I thought the locks were redone some years ago.
That is a lot of money for maybe 100 people going to town with a boat, when driving is easily available.