NDIP residents can replant, not rebuild damaged shorelines
Residents of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot who suffered erosion damage to their waterfront property during the spring floods will likely not be compensated for their loss. Mayor Danie Deschênes said there are no provisions for shoreline damage caused by erosion under the provincial government’s present guidelines. “About a hundred homes are concerned and the issue is regulations, as prepared by the government, does not apply to homeowners for their land,” she said “There is a subsidy that is planned for about $5,000 to replant but not to rebuild (shorelines).” The mayor said government assistance is geared toward helping people repair or rebuild their homes damaged by the floods, not repair eroded shorelines. “The decree from the provincial government right now only plans for houses. Let’s be fair: these people really need the help. They’re really the priority; I’m not being cold here. That’s what I’m saying to my citizens, some people are not even in their houses at this point,” she added. But Deschênes said she also understands why homeowners with waterfront property want to repair and protect their land.
‘EROSION IS NATURAL’
“Some people lost about half their land. So their intention is to try, because the water is not gone yet, to rebuild what it was before,” she said “The city regulation does not permit that, of course, because erosion is natural. So there is no way we can rebuild, unless the government lets us do it. And so, therefore, the plan is to ask the government to let the cities manage that.” Deschênes said NDIP will hold information meetings for citizens who want to know how they can protect their shoreline properties. The city has hired a “shoreline development expert” who will be on hand at two public briefing sessions in September. One meeting will be held Sept. 5 in Centre Notre-Dame-de-Fatima on for residents living south of Don-Quichotte Boulevard. Another meeting is planned on Sept. 7 for residents living to the north of Don-Quichotte. “We’re trying to build a team of experts to help the citizens build properly,” the mayor said. “We can’t leave people on their own with that. It’s kind of scientific. We need people for geology, for everything. That’s the way we’re going to be accompanying the citizens if the government lets us do the work.” Deschênes said the goal to is eventually rebuild “properly but safely, too. With a long-term view, with plantings and rocking, just to make sure whatever we do is safer and tougher than what we have now. “As I said to one of the citizens, nobody needs a permit to plant a raspberry bush or trees that will prevent erosion. They can plant (but) they cannot put rocks and I can’t issue a permit. “That’s the issue: I can’t issue a permit but you don’t need a permit to plant trees, plants and raspberries. “So that’s one thing they can do to prevent it from happening again next spring,” the mayor said.