Belle-Baie to consult residents about ATV access to streets
Municipality intends to survey the population
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The Municipality of Belle-Baie is considering whether it will allow ATV users to access more municipal streets, and it plans to get the input of residents to make that decision.
Chaleur ATV Club president Frederic Mallet-Boudreau said the club made the initial request to the municipal council over a year ago to gain access to a number of streets in Beresford, Petit-Rocher and Pointe-Verte so recreational vehicle users can have access to businesses such as restaurants and gas stations.
“It’s good for the economy of all the businesses … because the ATVs are able to go right there,” he said.
In Beresford, Mallet-Boudreau said the club has also requested members be legally allowed to drive ATVs from their homes to the closest trail access point. He said Petit-Rocher and Nigadoo already allow their residents that type of access.
The club is requesting access in Beresford to Rue Acadie from trail #10 to Rue Principale; Rue Parc Ouest and Rue Horizon, between trail #10 and Rue Principale; and Rue Principale between Rue Sunset sud and Rue Acadie.
In Petit-Rocher it’s looking to extend access to Rue Rochette to Rue Anglais and to designate a portion of Rue Anglais and Rue Maurice as a trail to give access to the restaurants and the wharf.
In Pointe-Verte the club has requested a portion of Rue de la Gare from Atlas Park to Chemain Station be designated a trail for ATVs.
The club currently has access in Petit-Rocher to Rue Principale, Rue Cormier, Rue Boudreau, Rue Rochette to the Independent grocery store, Rue LaPlante Ouest, Rue Roy and Promenade Florient.
In Nigadoo ATVs can access Rue du Moulin from Highway 11 to Rue des Cedres. They also have access to Rue des Cedres and Rue du Parc to access the Petro Canada gas station.
Belle-Baie council briefly discussed the matter during the Feb. 27 meeting.
“They basically just said they have everything they needed to continue with our request,” Mallet-Boudreau said.
Mayor Daniel Guitard said in an interview following the meeting that council agreed they’d like to entertain the idea further.
He said the municipality plans to set up a survey to determine if residents would like ATVs to have more access to the roads.
“We have electric bikes, we have bicycles, we have tourists, we have motorcycles in the summer, we have ATVs, so I want to question the population about what they think of all of this,” he said. “If they agree, we increase some of the already available streets in our town.”
Guitard said there is “economic value” to allowing ATV users access to businesses.
“But we need to consult our population first.”
The Chaleur ATV Club is the largest club in the province and all of Atlantic Canada with 1,865 members as of 2023. The club has been working for the past number of years to connect the nearly 300-kilometre trail system that runs from Notre-Dame-des-Érables to Jacquet River. Mallet-Boudreau said the final trail connection required is in Bathurst and is awaiting provincial approval.
He said more road access to allow ATV users services in more municipalities would be a welcomed addition to the finalized network.
Guitard said there is currently no set timeline on when the club might receive an answer.
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