Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail Business Plan, (Cadence Strategies, 2012)

Type of Publication

Business Plan

Language

English ‏‎‏‎‏‎

Where to Find?

https://newpathwaystogold.ca/assets/Gold-Rush-Snowmobile-Trail-Business-Plan.pdf

Abstract or Summary

Key findings of this study are summarized below:

Market Research

• The Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail (GRST) in its current condition is not market ready and requires a phased implementation of improvements in order to begin increasing local, regional and eventually destination use and securing the associated economic benefits from this visitation for the region.

• The market research literature reviewed and the local interviews conducted support the proposition that, with improvements, the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail has the potential to become a unique and competitive experience for snowmobilers in the winter, and off-highway vehicles (OHV’) in the spring/summer/fall thereby generating economic returns for local communities along the Trail on a year round basis. The new proposed marketing name “Gold Rush Recreation Trail” (GRRT) captures this four season use, although for legal purposes, the name Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail will be maintained as per current legislation.

•In order to secure these economic returns, investment in trail maintenance and development is essential in three primary areas: o to create circle tours from urban centres (Kamloops, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Prince George),

o to create a cruising corridor for multi-day touring and to access a series of destination play areas, and,

o to build connectors to these destination play areas and to local services and amenities such as lodging, fuel, restaurants and retail.

•It is important to note that while the specific sector groups (snowmobiling, quads/ATV’s/sidexsides, dual sport) support this direction for the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail, broader community support has not yet been tested. While much of the network of trails needed to create the proposed experience for target markets is already in place, it will be important to continue to reach out to local communities (First Nations and non-First Nations) to understand how they would like to be involved in the implementation of the proposed business plan. A series of information sessions for First Nations is planned for early October and the proposed Regional Management Committee structure recommended below will allow for this engagement to occur.

Economic Impact

• It is possible to estimate the economic impact opportunity available from an investment in the GRRT by utilizing findings from existing economic impact studies from a number of jurisdictions throughout North America. While a more formal input/output modelling would generate more accurate economic impact assessments for the GRRT, the application of spending patterns from other jurisdictions to estimates of trail user days on a year round basis with a focus on snowmobiling and OHV’s gives rise to approximately $17 million in cumulative direct spending over a ten year time frame.

Best Practices/Transferable Lessons

• Five jurisdictions were selected for study in order to identify critical success factors and transferable lessons for the Gold Rush Recreation Trail including:

o Valemount, BC

o Ontario o Saskatchewan

o Alberta

o Wisconsin

• Jurisdictions where snowmobiling is flourishing as an economic driver exist within a legislative framework that permits snowmobiling everywhere, except where specifically prohibited. This contrasts the model here in British Columbia where snowmobiling is not allowed anywhere except where permitted. In particular, in Saskatchewan all Crown Land is open for snowmobiling and it is permissible to ride on any highway right of way. Road crossings are legal provided the sled is registered. In order to encourage registration, the registration fee includes $200,000 of liability insurance. Further liability insurance coverage can only be secured with valid registration. In Ontario, legislation dating to 1973 permits snowmobiles to travel anywhere in the Province except where prescribed.

• British Columbia must consider a legislative framework that is more permissive in terms of recreational vehicle use of road rights of way, road crossings etc. Provided registration is mandatory along with liability insurance, this more open framework will support the development of trail use and the associated economic benefit arising from convenient access to accommodations, fuel, restaurants, retail etc.

• Jurisdictions typically generate revenues for reinvestment in trail maintenance and development from either vehicle registration fees that are collected by government and redirected to the provincial/state organization (Saskatchewan/Wisconsin) or from sale of trail passes. Wisconsin also receives funding from the State Gas Tax associated with estimated snowmobile gas consumption by residents and visitors.

• The success of mandatory trail permits depends either upon an extensive enforcement network such as the Ontario/Wisconsin model or a limited number of access points to the trail system as is the case in Valemount. Given the unlimited number of access points to the Gold Rush Recreation Trail, similar enforcement of mandatory trail pass purchases would be virtually impossible.

• The Gold Rush Recreation Trail must be supported by a combination of revenues arising from Provincial registration and licensing of outdoor recreational vehicles and from non-mandatory trail pass sales. It is critical that the ORV and NRRA legislation currently being drafted generate a pool of funds for trail development and maintenance as well as address current challenges associated with road use, road crossings and conflicts with extractive industries such as mining and forestry.

• The Gold Rush Recreation Trail must offer experiences based around communities as well as connections between communities. These experiences should include access to destination play areas as well as circle tours easily accessed from regional population bases.

Proposed Concept

• The proposed concept for the GRRT upon implementation of the phased trail development and maintenance strategies is a groomed and maintained cruising corridor from Clinton to Barkerville that offers multi-day itineraries as well as preferred access to a series of high-value destination ‘play’ areas (lakes, alpine areas etc.). The GRRT will be the primary route for regional population bases drawing from Prince George, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Kamloops, Clearwater, the Okanagan and the Lower Mainland to access two circle tours encompassing the northern region around the GRRT (Prince George/Williams Lake/ Quesnel/ Wells/Barkerville) and the southern region around the GRRT (Clinton/70 Mile/ Green Lake/100 Mile).

Trail Development/Maintenance Strategies

• In order to create this market-ready experience in a manner that will fulfill the demands of motorized recreationalists from local and regional markets, a series of phased improvements in the GRST and its maintenance are recommended. Recommended new trail development is minimal. Rather, connections to existing trail systems are made in three phases along with connections to services and amenities found in communities along the GRST.

• Phase I is a pilot phase which leverages the strengths of the trail systems already managed by the actively engaged 100 Mile/Green Lake/Interlakes Snowmobile Clubs and creates a circle tour in the southern region. Lessons from this pilot phase will be applied in subsequent phases. Key elements of Phase I include: o Connect existing trails managed by 100 Mile/Green Lake/Interlakes Snowmobile Clubs (see associated mapping)

o Continue ‘spine’ of GRST by addressing bridge crossing at Likely o Formalize legal connections to communities to permit access to services/amenities including fuel, accommodation, restaurants (see associated mapping)

o Groom and maintain official trails to market ready standard o Ensure appropriate signage is in place

Relevance

to be added

Bibliographical Data

• to be added