Landowners in Lunenburg County are elevating issues a few seawall constructed alongside the shoreline of Little Crescent Seashore close to West Dublin, N.S.
The small seaside is common amongst locals. It sits on the finish of Crescent Seashore, a protracted stretch the place folks have been capable of pull their automobiles up and revel in their day subsequent to the ocean for many years.
However among the panorama has modified.
“It appears there was some reconstruction of the pure habitat with the removing of grasslands and bushes,” mentioned Lucy Hendrixson, who grew up within the space.
“There was a giant outcry on how that is being carried out. Why are there no protections in place?”
The 130-metre wall was constructed by Hossein Mousavi, a Halifax developer, who owns property by the seaside.
He plans to construct three cottages for his household to make use of.
He mentioned a big sand hill and a few mature bushes and grasses had been eliminated to make room for the wall, however the sand will probably be reused to “sculpt, replant and in any other case restore the location to a pure type.”
However landowners are additionally questioning whether or not the non-public wall was constructed on public land.
Mousavi mentioned that is not the case. In Nova Scotia, seashores are public lands as much as the high-water mark.
He mentioned the property got here with two outdated protecting stone seawalls that had been broken by years of storms.
Data Morning – NS8:03New retaining wall at Crescent Seashore sparks concern about coastal growth
There’s frustration rising amongst some folks dwelling on the South Shore round growth encroaching upon beloved seashores and coastal areas. A bunch of residents are getting collectively to speak about choices to guard a kind of spots, Crescent Seashore close to West Dublin.
A licensed surveyor proposed putting the brand new seawall on prime of the prevailing ones on the high-water mark, he mentioned.
Mousavi, who owns building firm, Cresco, mentioned he was given permission from the province to do the work, with some restrictions.
Dozens of vans had been carrying a great deal of fill into the world Friday morning. Hendrixson mentioned there’s a salt water tidal wetland behind the seawall.
“These are actually ecologically delicate environments that one would hope, as Nova Scotians, there can be protections in place,” mentioned Hendrixson.
In 2019, the province handed the Coastal Safety Act, however the laws are usually not full and it is not but in impact.
The province gave Mousavi driveway and septic approval, which is what he wanted to get a constructing allow from the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.
However the mayor of the municipality mentioned the Coastal Safety Act must be enforced now so controversies like this do not come up.
Provincial workers investigating
Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson mentioned the municipality has ready a letter to ship to the province and he or she can also be recommending to council that the municipality hastens “the shoreline safety piece.”
“There must be coastal setbacks for growth now and we will not wait one other 12 months.”
A spokesperson for the Division of Pure Sources and Renewables mentioned on Friday the rock wall was to be constructed on non-public land.
Erin Lynch mentioned workers wish to decide whether or not there’s any encroachment and whether or not any additional motion can be wanted. She mentioned it will take a while.
Members of the neighborhood will probably be holding an data assembly on Saturday afternoon on the fireplace corridor in Petite Rivière.
“There have been some unfavorable conversations on-line, which may be very unlucky as a result of there isn’t a room for that in any way,” mentioned Hendrixson.
“The assembly is to deliver everybody collectively so we will focus on change and produce ahead the Coastal Safety Act.”
Mousavi has declined the invitation to attend, saying he isn’t comfy, partly as a result of on-line feedback.
“We’re like many different folks and fell in love with this particular seaside and this lovely space greater than 20 years in the past,” he mentioned.
