Todd Young doesn’t see what all the fuss is about.
Young’s family business, 3Ts Ltd., has registered plans to build a drydock facility on a beach area in the community of Glenburnie with the provincial government for environmental assessment.
As part of the environmental assessment process, the public is invited to submit comments on the project.
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Bonne Bay drydock registered for environmental assessment
One local resident, Greg Wood, has gone public about his concerns for the project, saying building a drydock on the particular site chosen doesn’t fit well with the fact the Town of Glenburnie-Birchy Head-Shoal Brook is an enclave within Gros Morne National Park. Wood says the development could compromise the area’s ecological integrity and the reasons why Gros Morne is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The document 3Ts Ltd. registered with the provincial Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment indicates that the company has received preliminary approvals of both the Town of Glenburnie-Birchy Head-Shoal Brook and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
However, Mayor William Anderson told The Western Star that the town office has heard from so many residents concerned about the project that the town council decided this past Sunday to withdraw its support of the project for now.
“We had all kinds of letters come in from residents and it seemed like most didn’t want us to recommend (approving) it,” said Anderson.
The town had been considering holding a referendum on the issue, noted Anderson, but the amount of opposition made it clear to council most people felt the project should not be approved.
The mayor said the town would probably consider the drydock in another location, but would have to seek input from residents first.
When contacted by The Western Star, Young said he had not been informed by the town that it had revoked its approval. He doesn’t think the development would have that big of an impact on the beach environment and doesn’t understand why there is suddenly so much opposition to it.
“I think people are making a mountain out of a mole hill,” he said.
Young said the drydock, which would be 2,090 square metres, would only be used for maintenance on the fishing company’s vessel three times every five years. The structure, he said, would essentially be two finger piers that would be closed off and the water pumped out when work on the boat is required.
At other times, added Young, the drydock would simply be used as a sort of slipway to launch boats and personal water craft from Bonne Bay Recreation, another business operated by Young’s family and located just behind the proposed drydock site.
The beach location is renowned for its low tides because of the shallow waters close to shore.
Young said the location chosen makes the most sense for both the fishing and recreational businesses. He said there are other wharves and structures along the shore in that area.
“We wouldn’t be the only ones up there,” said Young. “I don’t think this is that big of a deal.”
The Western Star requested an interview with someone from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans about the project. No one was made available, but an emailed reply indicated 3Ts had requested DFO to review the company’s project. That review, done through the department’s Fisheries Protection Program, determined the construction would not cause serious harm to fish or species at risk.
The review recommended additional measures to 3T’s that should be implemented in carrying out the work to avoid and mitigate effects on fish, fish habitat and aquatic species at risk. Those recommendations included measures to prevent the discharge of sediment, concrete and/or other substances into the waters of Bonne Bay.
The Western Star also requested an interview with someone from the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment concerning how the town’s decision might impact the environmental assessment process.
The deadline for public comments, which is a part of the process, came and went Monday.
No one was made available for an interview, but the department said via email that it is now reviewing the project. All comments received are being taken into consideration, including comments from the Town of Glenburnie-Birchy Head-Shoal Brook.
The department noted the proposed project is in a location that lies within the town’s municipal boundaries and must comply with zoning regulations.
The minister’s decision on whether or not the project will require further environment assessment is due next week.
More about the Fisheries Protection Program
The Fisheries Protection Program of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans assesses projects in Canadian waters to determine whether any of the work, activities, and/or undertakings associated with the project have the potential to cause a serious harm for fish and/or fish habitat. Serious harm is defined under the Fisheries Act as the death of fish, a permanent alteration to fish habitat and/or the destruction of fish habitat.
Source: Department of Fisheries and Oceans
For more information on if a DFO review is required for projects near/in water, visit http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/index-eng.html
*** The headline of this story was changed for clarity on July 5 ***