Marina construction begins in Quinte West

By Sean McIntosh and Mo Cranker

TRENTON – People have been waiting four years in Quinte West for a municipally run marina, and now it’s finally under construction next to city hall in downtown Trenton.

Trent Port Marina will be a $12 million marina. Construction has begun and will continue through the winter to ensure it will be completed by the goal date of May 31.

According to Marinas.com there are only four marinas in Trenton, none of which are able to hold as many as Trent Port Marina, which can have between 360 and 380 boats depending on the size of the boat.

The hope is that the marina will create more traffic though Trenton in order to create more tourism, as there is easy access to the Trent-Severn system which leads to Peterborough.

Supervisor of tourism and special events in Quinte West Lisa Grills said the docks and buildings will help bring more attention for the city.

“Unlike some of our competing marinas, we have the opportunity to create a community feel here at the marina. You’ve got walking access to retail stores, grocery stores, liquor and beer stores. So we’re giving the boaters the opportunity to have a cottage on the water,” she said.

Bob Forder, manager of buildings & facilities in Quinte West, says not only will the marina help build the community, but there will be no other marinas quite like this one in the area.

“This will be a cutting edge marina with security and the types of docks that we’re putting in the building right at the mouth of the Trent-Severn system, nobody else has the mouth of the Trent system. We will be, we hope, the jewel (of marinas),” he said.