NR-HQ-01-06E

Thibault announces a Federal investment of $548,000 for projects at Small Craft Harbours in Nova Scotia

January 25, 2001

YARMOUTH – The Honourable Robert Thibault, Minister of State for ACOA and Member of Parliament for the constituency of West Nova, announced today on behalf of the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, that the Government of Canada will invest $548,000 in harbour improvements at several Nova Scotia fishing harbours.

"This investment underlines the federal government’s commitment to maintain viable and safe harbours in support of Nova Scotia's coastal communities," said Mr. Thibault.

The project at Advocate will consist of the reconstruction of the inner 68-metre section of wharf. This will involve the driving of new bearing piles and the installation of new reinforced concrete pile caps and deck system. The existing wharf requires extensive repairs due to its advanced state of deterioration and fire damage sustained in 1990. Work is expected to start immediately with completion scheduled for the spring of 2001.

At Kraut Point (Riverport), repairs will be undertaken to the steel sheet pile wharf in order to restore it to a safe operating condition. The project will be completed by the end of March.

At Arisaig, the project will involve the placement of armourstone around the existing deteriorated 86-metre breakwater. This will stabilize the structure and prevent further deterioration. The breakwater acts as a barrier to the movement of sand that would otherwise accumulate in the harbour. The structure has incurred significant undermining and damage as a result of recent storms and is presently in an unsafe condition. Work is expected to start immediately and be completed by the end of March.

The project at Cape St. Mary’s will involve the construction of an access road to the breakwater/wharf as well as the placing of armourstone along the seaward side of the wharf. The work will serve to stabilize the structure and will be completed by the end of March.

These projects will be carried out by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as part of its Small Craft Harbours program, in cooperation with the harbour authorities, which manage and operate the facilities for local users. Such close cooperation with clients allows the federal government to continue to provide an operable system of harbours and facilities throughout Canada in support of commercial fishers.