Wheatley Community Task Force looking for a few good people

By Greg Coulter

WHEATLEY — Wheatley community pride has always risen to unique challenges.

Born out of concern, hope, the unknown and at times overwhelming frustration, a core of residents have banded together to set forth a guiding committee known as the ‘Wheatley Community Task Force’ with a focus on a strategy to shape the future for residents and businesses of the community.

As testing continues at the scene of the disaster, the initial purpose of the group is to create a community focused collective for the exchange of ideas related to future development opportunities in the residential and commercial sectors.

The focus of this group will be to develop an ongoing strategy for the future. It is certainly apparent that decisions and choices will be determined by results submitted by the testing contractors. There will be many ‘what-ifs’ for the foreseeable future, but it is the focus of this task force to have some workable options explored that may be implemented as soon as possible.

The committee will be comprised of 10 elected members and is looking for a commitment of community volunteers and local advisors to assist the committee when available to give feedback and insight into areas of concern such as recreation, tourism, and urban planning along with other ideas as they may be presented.

The task force is not being formed to deal with the ongoing day-to-day issues being experienced by those impacted by the explosion. The Active Citizens of Wheatley group continues to work with the municipality on those issues. Funding is available in association with the BIA and Chatham Kent to help put this initiative in place.

Terry Lobzun, lifelong Wheatley resident and community activist, looks for a light at the end of the tunnel after this disaster.

“It is extremely important that all stakeholders, residents, locally owned small business, big corporations, insurance companies, the municipality and the province become active in this process,” he says.

Prior to the downtown disaster, the community continued to grow and prosper. The downtown core boasted excellent restaurants, several unique shops, and a thriving Legion membership, while the surrounding area includes fresh fish retail markets, a thrivingmotorcycle dealership, fresh baked goods and grocery market .

The area is home to a first-class recreational facility which includes an ice pad, lighted ball diamond, tennis courts, splash pad, newly expanded soccer fields and a professionally-built skate park.

Other recreation opportunities include a perfectly manicured golf course, sport fishing, camping at Wheatley Provincial Park, Holiday Harbour, Campers Cove and Lakeside Park, as well as numerous seasonal cottage rentals and bed and breakfast units.

The area has abundant natural watershed lands perfect for bird watching, including Point Pelee National Park.

New home construction continues to expand with a multi-unit townhouse project underway close to the downtown core.

The townhouses being built in Wheatley.

Business opportunities in the area include a multi million-dollar commercial fishing industry, ship-building, four major food processing plants and pallet manufacturing.

With the recent announcements of the expanded auto industry opportunities, the ongoing bridge construction, new high schools and the new mega hospital, construction employment will remain steady. Wheatley can be poised to become an ideal bedroom community or a relaxing day trip excursion destination.

With Wheatley’s official birthday just around the corner on May 1, it is hoped to have the committee in place prior to that time.

Applications and an outline of the proposed committee are available online through the Active Citizens of Wheatley Facebook page. Committee openings for Wheatley residents and business owners are being accepted until April 1 and there will be a public vote on April 19-22.

Ballots will be available at Talbot Trail Golf Club and Bowman Feeds.