Rally for Dartmouth Cove held in Halifax; province says it’s reviewing infill bylaw

A rally against infilling at Dartmouth Cove was held in Halifax.

A rally for the Dartmouth Cove – which has long been the subject of debate around possible infilling – was held in downtown Halifax on Wednesday.

The Save Dartmouth Cove group organized the rally outside One Government Place at 11:30 a.m. They said they are seeking to save the area.

“Premier Tim Houston recently made public comments suggesting that HRM’s new bylaw to help restrict infilling in Dartmouth Cove is ‘ambiguous’ and ‘political,’” a statement from the group reads. “It is the will of the community and we will not stand for the Province’s interference.”

Last month Halifax council voted 12-to-three in favour of restricting infilling and development at the nine water lots in Dartmouth Cove. The restrictions would follow similar rules around infilling at the Northwest Arm in Halifax.

“Council has made a decision and at this point we have strong indication from the province that they are going to overturn it,” Coun. Sam Austin said. “Usually we don’t have such a bold telegraphing of intent.

“There’s nothing ambiguous about our bylaw, it’s perfectly clear. We should be left to make decisions here on what we know. The waterfront is the big opportunity and we shouldn’t screw that up by turning it into a rocky moonscape.”

Heather Fairbairn, communications director with the Department of Municipal Affairs, said they have identified “potential issues” with the bylaw and a review is underway.

The deadline for the province to make a decision on the bylaw is Nov. 28.

In late October, Transport Canada gave amended approval to 4197847 Nova Scotia Limited, the company behind the infill project.

According to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry, the company is proposing infilling 2.7 hectares of the Dartmouth Cove with non-acidic quarry rock and pyritic slate, which can produce acidic runoff if exposed to air.

Bruce Wood, CFO of Atlantic Road Construction & Paving, said his company received the permit from Transport Canada and they are now awaiting a permit from Fisheries and Oceans Canada for the infill work.

He said they plan to use the infill to create usable land for future housing developments at Dartmouth Cove.

“The idea it’s being used as a dump is just inaccurate,” he said. “Our position is politically we need to be focused on what this city needs, which is housing. We think it will be a great addition to downtown Dartmouth.”

Wood disputed Halifax’s ability to make the bylaw on infilling, saying it rests outside their jurisdiction.

“The jurisdiction for infilling is entirely federal,” he said.

-With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Natalie Lombard and Callum Smith

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