Greg Wood says it is ridiculous that anyone would ever consider building a large drydock on the sandy beaches of Glenburnie.
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Wood, who lives in the town of Glenburnie-Birchy Cove-Shoal Brook, is voicing his concerns about the proposed drydock facility being proposed by 3Ts Limited of nearby Woody Point.
The company registered its drydock plans with the provincial Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment for environment assessment in late May.
The general public has until July 2 to submit comments regarding the plans, which call for a nearly 2,100-square metre drydock.
Wood, whose home overlooks the beach location of the facility, has already written and submitted his response to the plan, saying he takes great exception to it for many reasons. He said the plan should be rejected mostly because the facility would destroy an area of pristine beauty within Gros Morne National Park.
He also feels the project would ruin the enjoyment of the public beach location for the people who have lived in the area for generations.
Wood said communities within UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Gros Morne National Park should be assisting in protecting the values and reasons why the area has earned that designation.
“That kind of development in the middle of this community seems to be so completely out of character with the values of a UNESCO site,” said Wood. “I’m surprised the department of environment would even consider it for environmental assessment.”
The registration document filed with government by 3Ts Limited indicates the company has already received approvals of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, along with the Town of Glenburnie-Birchy Head-Shoal Brook and various provincial government departments.
Wood charged that approvals were initially given for a wharf, but the project has since been modified to a drydock.
William Anderson, the mayor of Glenburnie-Birchy Head-Shoal Brook, said that is not the case. He said the town was always aware the project would be a drydock and only gave approval for the company to proceed with the steps it needed to take to go through the environmental process.
Anderson said the town will be consulting with its residents to determine just how the majority of people in the town feel before making any further decisions that would be within its jurisdiction to make.
“We’re just a small town and we don’t want to upset the apple cart,” he said.
The provincial environment minister’s decision on if the project requires further environmental assessment is due July 8.
