​Kincardine puts $92,000 toward safety improvements on the piers this summer

Kincardine council has agreed to add up to $92,000 to the 2024 budget in order to improve safety on the north and south piers, in Kincardine Harbour, this summer.

At the meeting Wednesday night (March 6), councillor Rory Cavanagh presented the report from the pier safety ad hoc committee which contained numerous recommendations.

The committee was established back in September to find ways to improve safety at the piers, following a drowning and a close-call in 2023.

Cavanagh said the top priority is that both piers remain open year-round, with appropriate signage and education. The municipality already has a long-standing ban on swimming near the piers and jumping from them.

Among the high-priority requests, are 10 new ladders for the piers, new sign designs and installation, improvements to the life-saving stations, directional signage, emergency parking enhancements, and the development of a Beach Blazers program.

Cavanagh broke down the high-priority recommendations as follows:
 

• New ladder installations phased in over one to four years
• Life-saving stations be increased to four from two
• Enhance access signs to the piers that depict no jumping from piers
• The perimeter of the piers to be painted bright yellow with enhancements
• Enhanced signage be installed to reflect risks and 911 address
• Non-swimming area located south of the south pier be increased to 200 metres from 100 metres

“We need the ladders on the piers to help people get out of the water,” said Cavanagh, “and we need them on the inside of the channel so people can get out when the water is rough.”

He also noted that the goal of the enhanced signage is to save victims without having people entering the water themselves, but calling 911 instead.

Among the medium-priority recommendations are:
 

• Gate design and installation at the entrance of the piers
• Consider fines for patrons who use the piers contrary to approved uses
• Parking pilot project for 2024 and additional directional signs identifying parking locations based on patron usage
• Remove the existing large, blue, decorative chairs located at the northern section of Station Beach
• Install mitigations to reduce members of the public from parking in the assigned Emergency Parking locations
• Consider a volunteer-supported beach patrol (ambassador) program (Blue Blazers) for a one-year trial in collaboration with other community partners and that the existing beach education program be enhanced to provide continual education opportunities for patrons at the waterfront

Cavanagh said the Beach Blazers program would not be for rescuing anyone, just an extra set of eyes on the beach and the piers.

“The committee acknowledges that there are significantly greater costs associated with maintaining the piers for recreational purposes and not solely for the structures to serve as a breakwall for marine craft,” he said, “and we understand that without investments to support the recreational aspect of the piers, one or both of them could be closed by council in the future due to financial constraints.”

He urged council to fund the high-priority requests in 2024 and to stay on top of the recommendations in the report to ensure beach safety.

“This is a series of logical, sensible recommendations to proactively protect our residents,” said mayor Kenneth Craig. “It will cost money and staff time but this is a well-rounded report.”

Community services director Jayne Jagelewski said what was presented to council is achievable and the recommendations will be prioritized in the department’s business plan. She cautioned council that there may be some supply-chain issues but staff will do its best to get these items in place before the start of the tourism season.

“This is an excellent report,” said councillor Mike Hinchberger. “It’s important to get these implemented and maintained. We have the mechanisms in place to have this ready by May 1. What about the swimming area north of the north pier?”

Jagelewski said it will remain at 100 metres north of the north pier.

“We should identify that area and extended the demarcation into the water,” said Hinchberger.

Jagelewski said that would be identified through signage at the beach access. Currently, the safe swimming area is identified with buoys out into the water.

Councillor Beth Blackwell said that risk elimination is impossible with regard to safety on the beach and at the piers. However, risk identification and mitigation are important.

She asked what happens if the high-priority recommendations cannot be achieved; what would happen to the piers?

Craig said that is an unfair question to ask Jagelewski, since that is the prerogative of council.

Blackwell countered by asking that with the piers closed until March 31, should they remain closed until the new ladders are installed?

Cavanagh said the committee recommendations were based on the piers being closed over the winter.

“The piers should be open with the proper process in place,” he said. “Trying to enforce something that is not enforceable puts us in a worse position.”

Councillor Bill Stewart said the south pier is not safe and should remain closed.

“The piers were not designed for pedestrian traffic,” he said. “They were put there to protect the boats coming into the harbour. Why are we wasting money on the south pier? It’s an accident waiting to happen; most of the drownings have happened on that side. We should keep it closed and maintain only the north pier. Both piers should be kept closed in the winter.”

Cavanagh said that was a valuable point but it was beyond the scope of the ad hoc committee. “We need to spend money on the piers if they are to be pedestrian walkways.”

“Even if it’s closed, we still have to provide a means for people to get out of the water on the south pier,” said Craig.

“We have to do what we can for harm mitigation,” said Cavanagh.

“Can we ensure that the updated signage gets installed quickly?” asked Hinchberger.

“Yes,” said Jagelewski. “The signage is an easy win. We have talked to our suppliers and they have tentatively designed some for us.”

Stewart noted that the firefighters are not allowed in Lake Huron; they are confined to conducting rescues from shore. The Canadian Coast Guard and the South Bruce OPP have jurisdiction in the water.

Kincardine deputy fire chief Matt Cottrill, who was a member of the ad hoc committee, said the firefighters do land-based water rescue, but are also allowed to enter the lake to conduct rescues from a structure on the water, such as an inflatable raft. “The Coast Guard and OPP have jurisdiction, but the firefighters would be working under their authority.”

Council approved the recommendations in the pier safety ad hoc committee report and agreed to put up to $92,000 toward the high-priority requests for this season. That funding will come from the lifecycle reserve fund. Stewart was the only member of council opposed.

The pier safety report noted that several of the recommendations can be transferred to other beaches in Kincardine for consideration for enhancements and should not be considered only at Station Beach.

“It is important to note that if the recommendations within this report are approved by council, it does not preclude the municipality from any future drownings or close-call incidents either at the piers or in the water along the beaches,” concludes the report. “The intent of the recommendations is to ensure that hazards are identified clearly to help reduce the risk of such tragedies.

“Staff should ensure review of this report is an ongoing process with annual upgrades to the waterfront presented to council during budget deliberations.”

The complete report can be viewed at: www.kincardine.ca/Pier-Safety-Report.