Fossil Centre Campaign Launched

Sydney Mines could soon have an important new tourist attraction. The community-based development agency New Deal is launching a campaign to create a fossil interpretive centre based on a feasibility study that's being released this week.

The study, by Environmental Design and Management, indicates an interpretive centre would have a significant impact on the local economy.

"This is the only site outside of China where fossils dating back this far can be found," said Eileen MacNeil, special project co-ordinator for New Deal Development Ltd., which initiated the study. "The site shows direct links between the fossil forest and coal, and it's of great interest to scientists and eco-tourists alike."

Geologists have been studying the area since the mid-19th century. The fossil forest --the site of first coal mine in the Sydney area --is readily visible from the shoreline. Fossilized trees are exposed on the cliff face, which shows layers of trees, trunks, bark and crowns.

"This is a great example of local initiative, of a community taking decisive action to build opportunity from an existing resource," said Manning MacDonald, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. "There's real potential here to create a compelling tourist attraction and provide a boost to the economic foundation of the Sydney Mines area at the same time."

New Deal is a not-for-profit community development corporation that fosters business and social development for citizens of the north side. When New Deal proposed the study last spring, the hope was to show that development of the fossil cliffs as a tourist site would draw 20,000 visitors annually.

"The entire area is anxiously awaiting the results of the study," Ms. MacNeil said. "There was much fanfare when it was announced. This is the gem Sydney Mines needs to kick-start business development."

The results of the feasibility study will be released at a luncheon hosted by the North Sydney Rotary Club on Thursday, Nov. 12. The study received financial assistance from Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. and Nova Scotia Economic Development and Tourism.