A provincial park and beach in Nova Scotia battered by a nasty winter storm is back in business, but the slow pace of repairs is causing some concern.
Dominion Beach was once ranked the second most popular ocean beach in Nova Scotia, but few sunbathers were hitting the sand on Thursday.
"I live here. I walk it everyday, and it breaks my heart to see it the way it is," says area resident and beachgoer Ralph Bresson.
Several hundred metres of boardwalk remain buried beneath a thick layer of rock that washed ashore during a storm in December. The province says the boardwalk won't be replaced because repeated damage from Mother Nature has made rebuilding the once-popular walkway unfeasible.
"I don't see why they can't invest money in this beach," says Bresson. "It's one of the finest beaches in Nova Scotia and it's a mess."
Debris is still being collected more than six months after the storm. The slow pace of the cleanup, coupled with a small repair budget, is raising questions about the province's role in preserving a beach that is also eroding.
"There's a beaches act that says these facilities have to be protected," says Coun. Darren Bruckschwaiger. "They're not doing it. They are not following their own legislation."
But Nova Scotia's Natural Resources Minister says the province is committed to protecting what he calls a "gem" in the provincial park system.
"We are going to be working with the community and the local MLA and our department to find some solutions and see what other enhancements may be possible for that park," says Charlie Parker. "The bottom line is that we want to make sure it is a good family-friendly park for years to come."
The province says it will begin working later this summer on a long-term plan for Dominion Beach, but in the short term, there's concern over what isn't being done to repair or replace what has been destroyed, at the start of beach season.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Randy MacDonald
