TRURO – Local municipalities are moving forward to plan for a world-class attraction in this region.

UPLAND, a Halifax-based consulting firm, has been selected by the Bay of Fundy Gateway Steering Committee to provide a detailed multi-phased master plan for the former Palliser Motel site.

Geoff Stewart, municipal councilor and project steering committee chair says “this is an exciting time for our Region and has been a while in the making but we are pleased to finally have the UPLAND consulting team on the ground.  They will bring a lot of depth and imagination to the master plan process.”

The company’s successful proposal was one of about a dozen submitted by firms from across Canada.

UPLAND provides award-winning strategic planning and urban design services to public and private sector clients throughout Atlantic Canada. Bruce Mans and Steffen Kaubler, experienced urban planning professionals, manage the company and are passionate about their work while understanding that building vibrant communities and regions is a complex process that often required input from many professions.

The UPLAND team has experts with extensive experience and knowledge in landscape architecture, building design, parks planning, place-making, interpretive planning, public consultation and graphic design, as well as tourism and business planning.

A stakeholder and public consultation process is being planned for the last week of April with a public open house scheduled for April 25 between 4 and 8 p.m. in the Millbrook Multi-purpose Room at the RECC.  Work on the master plan will continue over the summer and is expected to be completed by early September.

Both Tourism Nova Scotia and ACOA are providing up to $50,000 each toward the master plan process, while the remaining amount is equally shared by the Town of Truro and County of Colchester with each contributing $25,000.

The 10—acre property, located close to Highway 102 and  easily accessible from Exit 14, was purchased by the Municipality of Colchester  in April of 2015 with a long-term goal of developing the site as a tourism destination and gateway to the Bay of Fundy region.

The area is a popular stopping spot for both tourists and locals and attracts several thousand people each year and is an ideal viewing platform for the world-famous Fundy tidal bore.

Steering Committee has representation from the Town of Truro, County of Colchester, Tourism Nova Scotia, citizens and business stakeholders.