There are plans for development of a members only sports resort on Batchawana Island off Highway 17, 45 kilometres north of Sault Ste. Marie.
The island, which was once used for logging, is owned by Joseph Acheson, and is separated from the mainland by a 410 metre wide deep water channel at its closest point.
A promotional video states the owner has a vision for the building of a 5-Star exclusive sporting club using the latest green technologies on the currently forested and undeveloped island.
The private Batchawana Island Sporting Club would be located at a 20 bedroom resort known as Stormview Lodge, overlooking Lake Superior, focusing on sports such as archery, clay shooting, hunting, fishing, kayaking and biathlon activities.
Two docks are planned for the development, and a landing strip is also on the drawing board for Stormview Lodge member pilots.
The lodge, it is projected, would create approximately 35 jobs.
A public information session will be held regarding the proposed development beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday July 6 at the Lake Shore Salzburger Hof Resort (take Highway 563 south to 289 Corbeil Point Road, Batchawana Bay).
Several aerial and ground surveys of the island have been carried out over the past two years.
The island has a healthy wildlife population, with both small and large game.
The promotional video (below) states the owner has a plan for removal of some of the island’s degenerating, fire-risk forest, to be replaced by fast growing red pines, closely working with federal and provincial forestry officials, as well as scientists from Fisheries and Oceans.
350 acres, or seven per cent of the island, would be cleared for development of the resort, overseen by the Sault North Planning Board and Algoma Public Health.