Input being sought on proposed Coastal Protection Act
The Ecology Action Centre and East Coast Environmental Law (ECE-LAW) are beginning a series of consultation sessions with coastal residents to gather input on a proposed Coastal Protection Act currently being developed by the provincial government.
Led by the Department of the Environment, online public consultations on the future coastal protection legislation were held during the summer, with comment closing on Aug. 17. Targeted stakeholder meetings were also held.
“We’re kind of working alongside the Department of the Environment as they create a coastal protection act for Nova Scotia,” said Nancy Anningson, senior co-ordinator of coastal adaption for the Ecology Action Centre. Nova Scotia Environment representative John Somers talks about the development of a provincial Coastal Protection Act at the South West Nova Scotia Lobster Forum in Yarmouth on Sept. 19.
“We lobbied like crazy for more than a decade for this to actually happen and now that it’s happening what we’re doing is offering our expertise and guidance and also being fairly vocal and advocating when things aren’t being included that we feel should be,” she said. “The province did online consultation also did some targeted stakeholder conversations during the summer months. What we’re trying to do as an environmental charity is to add to that information. We’re trying to make sure as many voices as possible are being heard.”
So far, the Ecology Action Centre and ECE-LAW have several consultation sessions confirmed, including one that was held in Wolfville on Sept. 24 one on Sept. 25 that was held at the Sandy Point Lighthouse Community Centre in Shelburne County. Sessions are also being held in mid-October in Baddeck and Antigonish (dates to be announced).
“We’re asking community members to come in and share their hopes and concerns,” said Anningson. “We want to be able to turn back to our partners at the Department of the Environment and say here are the things we’re hearing about.”
Anningson said if there are requests, they may schedule more consultation sessions, adding anyone wanting to add their input can always contact the Ecology Action Centre directly through email (coastal@ecologyaction.ca) or phone 902-442-5046.
The development of the Coastal Protection Act was on the agenda for the South West Nova Scotia Lobster Forum in Yarmouth on Sept. 19, with a presentation from Nova Scotia Environment representative John Somers.
“When government announced intent to develop the coastal protection act they said in the same breath without impacting the viability and vibrancy of our fishing communities,” Somers told fishermen and industry stakeholders. “We want to ensure we’re not going to stop people from building fish plants or shore infrastructure.”
Somers said there are still a lot of specifics to work out.
“The purpose is to stop building structures too close to the shoreline where we feel they will get damaged in the years to come,” he said, adding the Act will have three major components including a coastal protection zone.
“Think in terms of setbacks, it’s not settled what kind of provincial setback there will be,” he said, adding working groups are being formed this fall to address those issues. “Second are the regulations that govern the activities that can happen within that zone, the rules around what you can and can’t do and certain standards that might apply to construction in that zone. The final thing is creating provisions for administration, monitoring and compliance so that’s mostly how will we actually enforce this.”
Somers said the department has reached out to industry groups, fishing industry organizations, the construction sector, real estate, finance and insurance sectors, First Nations and municipalities during the process so far.
“None of this is settled,” he said. “The main thing is trying to prevent construction where it will do environmental harm or will be very vulnerable in the coming years from sea level rise, storm surge and erosion.”