'A symbol for the township:' New Hamburg trade board eyeing waterwheel upgrade
A New Hamburg landmark may soon be getting a facelift.
The old wooden waterwheel at William Scott Park could be replaced with a steel one as the Board of Trade eyes an upgrade.
First built by the New Hamburg Trade Board in 1990, the waterwheel has started showing its age recently and even stopped rotating last year.
"It's around 30 years old, so it is past its life expectancy," said Joe Figliomeni, chair of the Board of Trade's Waterwheel Committee.
The board is proposing a design similar to the original, but the new steel one would generate power.
"It's not going to generate a lot, but if we could get the lights down in the park area lit, that would be great," Figliomeni said.
The group is also suggesting adding an educational component, such as a kiosk, to explain the history and importance of local milling operations.
Figliomeni estimates the cost of upgrading the waterwheel between $200,000 and $300,000.
Some New Hamburg residents who spoke to CTV News said they felt the price tag was too steep, but the trade board says it’s a worthwhile investment.
"We want to sort of capitalize on that and see if we can draw more tourists to the area," Figliomeni said.
For many, the structure is more than just a waterwheel, but an iconic emblem for the community.
"It's a symbol for the Township of Wilmot and New Hamburg in general," Figliomeni said.
The trade board says there will be a fundraising component involved to support the project, but only if the community is on board with the upgrade.
"It's got to be a community project, so we have to have community consensus," Figliomeni said.
The trade board is presenting its plans to council Monday and is asking for feedback from the public.
If approved, the project could start early in the new year with the new steel waterwheel spinning in the park by the end of next summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.