It’s a day that the City of Belleville and the Belleville Agricultural Society had been looking forward to for a long time.
Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk, members of city council, government officials, and members of the Belleville Agricultural Society took part in a sod-turning ceremony Wednesday morning.
The ceremony was at the site of the new Belleville Agricultural Fairgrounds site.
“It’s a huge day for the city. It’s a big day for the Agricultural Society. I’m just really excited on behalf of Belleville City Council that we can do this.” Mayor Panciuk tells Quinte News.
The Agricultural Society will be moving its location at Sidney and Bridge St. to a 30 acre property on Black Diamond Rd. near Highway 401 and Highway 37. The property was purchased by the City of Belleville.
The society will have a lease on the property for 50 years, costing $2 a year.
A new over 35,000 square foot conference/equine centre will be built on the property allowing for year-round activities.
Other buildings will be the responsibility of the Agricultural Society.
Mayor Panciuk says there were many times where the deal may not have happened.
“This is a complicated arrangement that we had to make for this deal. It’s self-financing which means that taxpayers aren’t going to be subsidizing this, but there’s a lot of different things that went into it. So, you know, finding the right site was essential. If we wouldn’t have found the right site, this deal would have not happened.” Mayor Panciuk tells Quinte News.
As part of the development, there will be an extension of a new sanitary sewer along Black Diamond Rd. to help service the new Fairgrounds site.
A new driveway will also be constructed from Black Diamond Rd. It will include water and sanitary servicing and lighting.
Completion of the Black Diamond Rd. sanitary sewer extension and the Belleville Agricultural Fairgrounds site is expected to be completed by the summer of 2023.
