$22.25 million announced for 10 local small craft harbour projects
Six projects in riding of West Nova, four in in South Shore – St. Margarets
Shelly Phillips
account executive Cell: 902-680-6769 sphillips@herald.ca
Tara Manthorne
sales
902-749-2517 tara.manthorne@tricountyvanguard.ca
Margaret Wallace
A total of $22.25 million has been announced for 10 small craft harbour projects in the region.
The announced was made last week by South Shore – St. Margarets MP Bernadette Jordan and West Nova MP Colin Fraser.
Jordan announced $13.9 million for four harbour infrastructure improvements in her riding on Aug. 23 at the Upper Port La Tour wharf in Shelburne County.
“Our small craft harbours are the critical infrastructure needed to support our fishing industry and coastal communities,” said Jordan. “This work is essential to our region and will stimulate opportunities to benefit our fishing communities and the industry as a whole.”
Projects include structure reconstruction work and raising the concrete deck elevation at the Bear Point wharf; construction of a new section at the East Side Port L’Hebert wharf as well as dredging; the installation of two sets of floating docks, including shore ramps and abutments, and an updated electrical system in Gunning Cove; and the construction of a new crib wharf to the west of the currently load-restricted wooden wharf in Upper Port LaTour. Dredging and the installation of an updated electrical system to code are also components of the Upper Port La Tour project.
Fraser announced $8.35 million in new funding for six small craft harbour improvement projects in West Nova on Aug. 22 at the Dennis Point wharf in Lower West Pubnico, where construction of a new wharf to the south of the existing structures will be built.
“This $8.35-million investment in local small craft harbours not only helps the commercial fishing industry, but West Nova as a West Nova MP Colin Fraser, centre, talks with people following the small craft harbours funding announcement at the Dennis Point wharf in Lower West Pubnico on Aug. 22. whole,” said Fraser. “While additional work on small craft harbours throughout West Nova also needs to get done, today’s announcement demonstrates our government’s commitment to ensuring that fishers can continue to rely on safe and accessible harbours. Investing in our small craft harbours not only helps to renew and maintain the infrastructure that forms the backbone of our regional economy, but also creates job opportunities for fishers, small businesses and local communities.”
Other projects identified for funding include the construction of a containment cell to allow for the disposal of dredged materials at wharves in both Chegoggin and Pinkey’s Point. In Hampton, there will be the installation of new piles, tie rods and concrete anchor blocks. The Meteghan wharf will see the installation of a float system while in Wedgeport repair work will be carried out to damaged steel piles using concrete jackets along with reinforcing steel plates.
The new funding is in addition to approximately $2 million in existing funding that will be used for projects throughout West Nova, said Fraser, noting the federal government is investing $250 million over the next two years to renew its network of small craft harbours and work with municipalities and other stakeholders to enhance local communities, economies and foster job creation. This is in addition to $100 million that will be invested in 2018-19 for repairs, maintenance, construction, and dredging at core commercial fishing harbours across Canada.
The continued support from the federal government is “important,” said Argyle-Barrington MLA Chris d’Entremont, who also spoke at the Dennis Point announcement. “There’s still a lot of work to do. You look at what is behind us. This is our industrial park. This is a business park for many communities. Many of these ports have been expanding and growing and trying to maintain (their facilities) on meagre budgets over the last number of years. It costs more than it ever did to build things and upgrade things.”
He said there are “27 ports from Cape Forchu to the end of my constituency and each and every one of them has a project. They want to expand and do better for their fishermen.”
Fraser said he expect tenders for the projects “to go out soon. We want to start this work as soon as possible and hopefully get some work done this year.”
In 2016 the fishing industry in Canada had landed a value of $3.4 billion, employing 44,000 people.
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