More time needed for consultation of proposed Dartmouth Cove infill project
The fight over a proposed infill project on the Dartmouth side of Halifax Harbour has been quiet, but there are signs opponents are stepping up their concerns.
"This trail is used 365 days of the year, seven days a week, non-stop," said Jill Brogan with Friends of Dartmouth Cove.
Last month, Transport Canada gave its approval for Atlantic Road Construction and Paving to dump approximately 100,000 cubic metres of pyritic slate into the cove.
"We're asking the community, anybody who cares about the waterfront, all of the government agencies to think and to stop it. To write letters. Urge council to treat Dartmouth cove in the same way that they treated the Northwest Arm," said Brogan.
A spokesperson for Canada's Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said there is an opportunity for Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) to address what gaps exist in regulating infills with municipal and provincial authorities to do so.
"Transport Canada will cooperate with the municipality on any potential regulations they put forward," said the spokesperson in an email.
A spokesperson for HRM did not have any "new information" to share on the project or any talks with Transport Canada.
The project still needs to be approved by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which says more time is required to continue consultation.
"They have to judge it on merits, science, evidence. We have been encouraging citizens from the start to send in thoughtful, evidence-based responses to why this project should not go forward," said Dartmouth-Cole Harbour MP Darren Fisher from Ottawa.
Fisher says he has been fighting against this project for two years.
"We know that there's a very good, strong fish habitat there, and this is not something that is good for that burgeoning, remerging fish habitat," he said.
The private company says as part of the project, it will donate a section of the land to develop a designated fish habitat.
"Working hand in hand with marine biologists, we've designed a rockweed beach along the waterfront to act as a food source and habitat for fish and various marine species. Furthermore, artificial reefs will be placed along the seabed to ensure the area becomes thick with marine vegetation," said Bruce Wood, Atlantic Road Construction and Paving's chief financial officer, in an email to CTV News.
"We are committed to enhancing the ecosystem in Dartmouth Cove and are eager to witness its restoration in the years to come," said Wood.
Brogan says that doesn't go far enough.
"It's not acceptable to come in here and fill this cove up, when we've spent so much money to clean it up, and make it a wonderful spot for people," said Brogan.
If the project were to go ahead as currently planned, work would begin in September. Atlantic Road Construction and Paving says it plans to keep the waterfront portion of the trail open during construction, though there may be times when it isn't accessible for safety reasons.
Brogan says Friends of Dartmouth Cove are planning a meeting next week to discuss the latest status of the infill project.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.