Feds ensuring safety at New Waterford field
NEW WATERFORD — The federal government is taking the next steps to ensure safety at a New Waterford baseball field built on top of a former coal mine.
The Cape Breton Post has learned recent work at the Ray (Bozo) Steele Memorial
Ball Park is taking place as the feds prepare to transfer the property to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality next year.
Excavation work began at the field, located off Heelen Street, earlier this week.
Despite rumours of a sinkhole at the field, a source tells the Post that isn't the case, noting no such problems have transpired and nobody has been at risk to date.
According to information obtained by the Post, the federal government intends to collapse part of the field, which is built on top of the entrance to the former No. 16 coal mine, secure the workings and reinstate the property as a baseball field before the transfer to the municipality.
The property, once owned by DEVCO, is currently under the control of Public
Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), a department of the federal government.
In 2019, PSPC conducted geotechnical drilling at the location and discovered the presence of mapped workings that have left significant shallow voids that could pose potential health risks if not addressed.
The source tells the Post the municipality has shown interest in having the field transferred, however, work must be completed before it can be done.
If the work wasn't completed, the risk of potential issues, like failure, could cause significant damage to the field as well as risks to public safety.
Along with the entrance to the mine, the Post has learned slopes and tunnels are under the field. The project is expected to be completed in three phases — the first currently underway.
New Waterford, known as a coal mining town, had several colliers including No. 16, which shut down in 1963 and was considered one of the biggest mines in Canada.
The baseball field, formerly known as Park Field, was renamed in honour of the late Ray (Bozo) Steele of New Waterford in July 2013.
In recent years, the New Waterford Minor Baseball Association has renovated the field and brought it to Baseball Nova Scotia standards. A number of provincial tournaments have been played at the location since 2016.
As part of its mandate, PSPC is responsible for maintenance and monitoring of old subsurface mine workings in former coal mining towns across the municipality. It includes monitoring, identifying and fixing areas of risk for subsidence.
Similar projects are also scheduled to take place in other locations in New Waterford including a section of property near the walking track near Miner Avenue and Currie Street, formerly known as No. 14. Work is also slated for No. 12 at Colliery Lands Park off Ellsworth Avenue.
Meanwhile, the Post has also learned similar work will also take place in Reserve Mines at No. 5/10 near the entrance to Reserve Mines Park, as well as No. 25 in Gardiner Mines near Centreville Street.
Once work is completed at those properties, other than the Gardiner Mines location, the land will also be transferred to the municipality.
As for the baseball field, the source tells the Post work is expected to be completed sometime this winter with the goal of having it transferred to the municipality in the spring, weather pending.
The Post contacted CBRM for more information about the projects, however, all questions were directed to PSPC. The publication requested an interview with PSPC, however, the request was not granted at press time.
With the baseball season set to begin in late May, it's unknown as of now when players will be able to return to the field, however, District 11 Coun. Darren O'quinn is optimistic.
“Hopefully, we won't lose a full season of baseball, but safety always has to come first,” said O'quinn when reached by phone Thursday.
The Post contacted New Waterford minor baseball president Chris Hillier regarding the project and impact on the association's plans for 2021, however, he couldn't be reached for comment.