A year after the first complaints, the New Brunswick government is set to spend $1.68 million to try and solve water quality problems at Parlee Beach.
It's all part of a $3 million investment. The money was announced earlier this year after studies found extremely high levels of fecal bacteria at the popular beach.
“We have to restore trust, confidence in what we are doing concerning the quality of water at Parlee and Murray Beach,” says Local Government Minister Serge Rousselle. “We are going as fast as we can, and I think we are quite effective.”
The project will include a rain gauge and near real-time data logger at Parlee Beach, upgrading the sewage lagoon at Murray Corner, and starting an independent wetland delineation survey.
Major construction will start in the fall, with upgrades to lift stations, new boat pump out stations, and an inventory of private septic systems on the horizon. Buoys will also be set up farther away from the swimming area next summer, while a steering committee studies what is causing the contamination.
Residents say they're happy with the update, but wish there was more transparency around the studies.
“That part is not being communicated as well,” says West/Ouest Brûlé Ltd. representative Andre Touchburn. "We don't understand what is being done and would like to know more details about what's being done to find the sources of contamination.
Others were optimistic, but wished area MP Dominic LeBlanc and MLA Victor Boudreau had attended.
“If the government is very serious, we need to see them on all levels,” says Natasha Bell, member of Save Wetlands, Water and Tourism. “I didn't see any representatives from Beaubassin or Cap Pele, so if we're going to be regional, let's get regional.”
Water quality results have been better than expected this summer. But residents say they will continue to press the government until there's a long-term solution.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Cami Kepke.
