The Municipality of Argyle is standing behind the aquaculture development area.
They worked with the province to identify 53 potential sites in Lobster Bay, six have gone to tender.
Some residents feel like they weren’t properly consulted by the municipality or the province, and say the sites aren’t far enough away from their coastal properties.
At a meeting last week, Councillor Guy Surette made a motion to ask the province to pause the six sites for more consultations, but that was rejected.
A motion from Councillor Glenn Diggdon later passed, asking the province to work closer with residents that may be affected by the other potential 47 sites.
In a June meeting, council said they could do a better job communicating with citizens despite extensive efforts to consult and engage over the last few years.
Warden Danny Muise says you can’t please everybody.
“I’m going to make decisions that I feel are good for the municipality, and are good for the people. I think there are more people for it than against it, so I feel we’ve made a good decision,” said Warden Muise during the meeting.
Members of the public were allowed to make presentations at the two-hour meeting.
Oyster farmers, as well as members of the Association for Responsible Aquaculture in Argyle were in attendance.
The association says they support aquaculture, but it has to be done the right way.
They’ve said the municipality didn’t do a good job on public consultations, and many found out the day the pre-approved sites were announced in April.
Council says it’s now in the hands of the province.
During the meeting, Deputy Warden Nicole Albright said she’s committed to the ADA.
“We were worried about our population growth, and jobs in this area. We saw this as an opportunity to grow our economy,” said Deputy Warden Albright.
Councillor Surette was asked by Albright if he still supports the ADA.
He says while he’s not re-offering for council, it’s up for the constituents to decide, and the people will make their voice heard in the October election.
