Possible solution in works for west coast dispute over pond access
On Aug. 19, 1905, Michael Cormier of St. George’s purchased a parcel of land nestled close to Codroy Pond in western Newfoundland and Labrador called Lot 9.
It cost him $30.90 for the land and another $1 for the processing fee.
More than 100 years later this bit of land, or rather a rough gravel road that runs through part of it, has become a bitterly contested dispute between the public seeking access to the pond and local cottage owner Charles Brake.
Last summer Justin Smith formed a Facebook group called “Help Get Access Back to Codroy Pond.”
It was there that people brainstormed ways to gain access to the popular pond through legal channels.
However, up to the end of that summer and despite support from St. George’s-humber MHA Scott Reid, nothing had been resolved.
One year later, group member Brenda Gale says the solution may be a simple one, although likely a bit costly.
“Building a new road is the easiest fix for the situation,” she says. “The battle is not between (us and) who owns the land. Whoever owns the land and this gentleman (Brake) need to deal with that. That’s a court situation.”
Gale, who is a small business owner and accustomed to dealing with red tape, has spent considerable time researching original land grants and legislation surrounding Codroy Pond.
Once she learned the history of the road, she contacted Justin Smith and his group in an effort to help.
“He’s not fighting to get it for himself. He’s fighting to get it for everyone,” said Gale. “I really believe the government should have stepped in at this point, if not long ago.
“The easiest and fastest way to get this fixed is to apply to have a new road built.”
Cottage owner Charles Brake, who owns land near Codroy Pond, spoke with The Gulf News via telephone on Aug. 2.
Regarding the dispute over access to Codroy Pond, he contends he is only trying to take care of the beach.
“I’ve seen it over the years. People letting their kids go in the water and they’re intoxicated on the beach. To me that’s not being responsible,” Brake said.
He says fires are left unattended too close to the woods, ATV users often race up and down the beach, and beachgoers leave trash and broken glass behind. He insists the area has become unsafe as a result.
“It’s gone out of hand now.” Brake says so far nobody has offered to buy the disputed land, but he would be willing to discuss it.
“Yes, under the condition that the pond be cleaned up. I haven’t had the chance to go down there and drag the glass to the surface. Over the years we’ve been picking up buckets of glass along the beach.”
He did confirm the access road was still dug up, and he had no immediate plans to change that.
“It’s going to remain dug up until the beach gets cleaned,” said Brake, who noted people have even been defecating on the beach. “It’s been 11 years and the last seven years it’s been increasingly worse.”
In response to inquiries, Eric Humber, manager of media relations for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, issued the following statement to The Gulf News via email: “On Aug. 8, 2018, a ditch was found within the boundary of T’railways Provincial Park. The ditch did not impede traffic in the T’railway but did encroach the outer boundary of the park. Park staff advised the cabin owner that the ditch would need to be repaired. On Aug. 9, 2018, the ditch was repaired.”