The NRC, a citizens group with the intent of preserving the integrity of the Niagara River, has launched a civil suit against the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake over the renewal of the lease of the Melville Street dock with Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours.

The group claims the town is illegally permitting WJBT to use the Old Town dock.

Mary Mursell, chair of the NRC, remained tight lipped on the lawsuit, on advice from the NRC's lawyers. Mursell said all the information on the case, including the application letter is on the group's website, www.niagararivercoalition.org.

The website states that the "only course of action to prevent the enshrinement of WJBT at the Town Dock and on the river permanently is to take legal action. We have done so. This has not been done lightly."

In February, Niagara-on-the-Lake council renewed WJBT lease for an additional five years. The new agreement went into effect last month.

The NRC claims WJBT's use of the Melville dock goes against the agreement signed when the town purchased the dock from the federal government. The lawsuit application stated that since the dock is designated as a conservation area, under the Town's official plan, the dock cannot be used for non-municipal purposes.

The lawsuit calls for the town to open use of the Melville dock to the public.

Niagara-on-the-Lake CAO Lew Holloway said like every legal issue, the lawsuit will be referred to the town's legal counsel for advice and recommendations will be made in an in-camera session at council in the near future.

This isn't the first time a group of citizens have attempted to sue the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. A similar suit was sought six years ago by the Niagara-on-the-Lake Association of Ratepayers when the lease was last renewed.

That lawsuit was not resolved as NOTLAR was disbanded after declaring bankruptcy due to legal fees.