Fixing shoreline erosion north of the Kincardine Harbour to cost $300,000

Kincardine council has agreed to spend up to $300,000 to keep the shoreline bank, north of Kincardine Harbour, from washing into Lake Huron.

In committee-of-the-whole Wednesday night, June 1, public works director Adam Weishar said that staff met with municipal engineer, B.M. Ross and Associates, to review a plan for remediation work required to re-stabilize the shoreline, at an estimated cost of $300,000.

Proposed as a fall project, it would include excavation of the existing beach area, backfill of rip-rap or select fill, and placement of armour stone to stabilize the eroded area. Steps, within the retaining wall, would allow pedestrian access to the beach.

Weishar said that for this summer, parks staff has temporarily relocated some of the boardwalk to allow access to the beach.

Provided approvals can be obtained from the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA), the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, within a reasonable time frame, and adequate funding is available, the project should proceed this fall, said Weishar.

The treasurer recommended the money come from the contingency/capital reserve.

Councillor Laura Haight asked if the work would encompass the shoreline from the north pier to the Kincardine Pavilion?

Weishar said it would include only the portion of shoreline from the north pier, along Macpherson Park to Dunsmoor Park.

Haight also asked if anything can be done for the owners of the little white house beside the pier, which has also been affected by the shoreline erosion.

"If council agrees to move forward with this project, we could address that with the property owners," said Weishar. "What we're asking council tonight, is to endorse the project so we can move the process forward. Once we get the approvals, we can put the project out to tender and then bring it back to council."

"Is there adequate protection for the shoreline, north to the pavilion or should we bolster that area as well?" asked councillor Randy Roppel.

Recreation director Karen Kieffer said the SVCA representatives walked up and down the beach and made their recommendation for the section as far as Dunsmoor Park.

Councillor Maureen Couture said similar work was done along Saugeen Street, north of Broadway, in 1986, and it is still strong.

Committee-of-the-whole approved the recommendation to amend the 2016 capital budget to include the shoreline protection project, funded from the contingency/capital reserve, at an estimated cost of $300,000, and further instruct staff to proceed to tendering the project.

Later, in council session, Haight said she believes council is jumping the gun with approval of this project before discussions with the owner of the house on the shoreline.

"A report will be coming back to council before the project is let to tender," said Couture.

Kieffer said the municipality needs something to present to the approval agencies to get the required permits.

"Yes, but we're amending the budget by $300,000 and agreeing to spend that money," said Haight.

"And I've received a lot of calls from people concerned about the shoreline erosion," said Faubert.

The budget amendment and shoreline project were approved by a vote of 5-3. Mayor Anne Eadie was absent.



Armour rock and trees protect the Lake Huron shoreline along Saugeen Street, north of Broadway, Kincardine