The District of Muskoka has negotiated a new contract with the Markham-based Geo-data service provider that captured the wrong digital air photo images of Muskoka earlier last spring.

District solicitor David Royston confirmed last week that Muskoka has entered into a new contract with First Base Solutions, the company that mistakenly supplied Muskoka with air photos of the region that did not meet the specifications of the municipality’s contract for the project.

First Base Solutions reportedly captured the images too late in the season, when foliage had covered up local road networks and other landmarks. The details are critical to the air photo project as the images are to be used for GIS (geographic information system) mapping purposes.

Nevertheless, Royston said the district has renegotiated its contract with the company to obtain new photos of the region by the fall of 2008. The $183,000 contract was reduced in price by just over $21,000 in light of the gaffe, Royston said.

“The parties have come to a mutual agreement on the situation,” said Royston. “In essence, we’ve just extended the delivery date for the photos by nine months.”

According to Graham Good, Muskoka’s manager of geomatics, in addition to GIS mapping the digital air photos will be used by Muskoka when considering future development applications. The information will also assist with 911 addressing, watershed mapping and determining the location of natural heritage sites.