(road to Cape Forchu Light-CJLS News)
A municipal councillor is pleased the province launched public consultations on future coastal protection legislation.
Environment Minister Iain Rankin, who made the announcement Tuesday, says climate change is already having an impact on sea levels.
The province is proposing coastal protection legislation with clear rules on what can and cannot be done in areas next to the coast.
Loren Cushing, who represents District 6 for the Municipality of Yarmouth says he’s encouraged by the announcement.
“If we can tap into the province and the feds to do some cost sharing on erosion protection, that would be great.”
Cushing, a strong proponent of coastline protection, says he’s seen how drastic the landscape has changed over the years in the Pembroke, Chegoggin Point, Overton and Cape Forchu areas.
“Also north of the Churn Road, there’s a road that leads to higher elevation, that needs to be built up and there’s a saltwater wetland. In my area we’ve seen erosion of an area we call Bell’s Point, 60 to 70 feet. In the Yarmouth Bar area where the armour stone is, that has eroded enough that the rocks have settled in. There’s also erosion at John’s Cove Beach and Lobster Pound Road.”
In a news release, Nancy Anningson, coastal adaptation senior coordinator for the Ecology Action Centre, says dunes, salt marshes and natural vegetation provide buffers to protect us and we need to protect those natural defences.
You can have your say, online, by visiting novascotia.ca/coast.
If you’re not online you can call 902-424-2547
The consultation will be open until Friday, Aug. 17.