Effective April 1, Greater Sudbury Police officers will provide policing for residents who live in Fraleck, Parkin, Aylmer, Mackelcan, Rathbun and Scadding townships.
Sgt. Gary Lavoie told members of the Greater Sudbury Police Services Board, at their monthly meeting Monday, there are less than 50 full-time residents in these six townships, but the numbers grow to just under 300 during camping season.
Most of the townships surround Lake Wahnapitae, the largest self-contained inland lake in the world, and there are 160 kilometres of shoreline, said Lavoie.
When it was agreed Greater Sudbury Police would take over policing of this vast geographic area last fall, Lavoie put together a tentative plan, which he presented to the board Monday.
"The area around Lake Wahnapitae possesses unique challenges because of its enormity," he said.
As a result, he's requested officers have access to a bigger boat as well as two new snowmobiles and an SUV, which the board will decide on in future months.
Greater Sudbury Police has also partnered with the local fire department and Emergency Medical Services to formulate plans should a serious incident take place in this new coverage area, said Lavoie.
He's also met with members of the Kukagami Cottage Association to discuss cottage watch and regular patrol programs, which will be initiated in the coming months, said Lavoie.
Officers from the Nickel Centre storefront office in Garson will be contacted whenever police assistance is required anywhere in these six rural communities, he said.
He will report to the board in November with details relating to the expanded coverage area and will complete a detailed report next spring, said Lavoie.
