Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
Transport Canada is rescinding its approval for the Dartmouth Cove infill project that has caused a lot of back and forth between locals and officials.
In an email to CTV Atlantic News late Wednesday afternoon, the transportation minister’s office confirmed that the department has begun the process of revoking approval.
The email says the department has “accepted the request for judicial review submitted by the Center for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE),” which is headquartered near the proposed landfill.
COVE recently filed the application in federal court.
“The government contacted COVE and the developer to request their consent to suspend the judicial review process, rescind the decision, and restart the consultations,” read the statement from the minister’s office.
“Under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, Transport Canada makes decisions related only to the effects on navigation and does not evaluate general use or the merits of a particular project.”
Dartmouth Cove is accessible via Maitland Street and a cycle and walking path. It is currently used as a park.
The statement concludes by saying that Transport Canada will continue to cooperate with the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) on any potential regulations they introduce.
Dartmouth-Cole Harbor MP Darren Fisher shared his approval of the decision in a letter posted to his website and social media accounts.
In the post, Fisher said he wrote a letter to the transportation minister in April, asking him to withdraw approval for the project, adding that he strongly believes “Transport Canada failed to meet their mandate.”
He said the infill project would have seen nearly seven acres of the cove filled with pyritic slate from construction sites in the area.
“I spoke with the minister and learned that Transport Canada began the process on Friday to withdraw their approval, resetting the clock on their consultation process,” read the letter. “This is a win for our community, but Dartmouth Cove is not protected, yet.”
The transport minister’s office said the HRM has the opportunity to introduce a municipal by-law relating to infill, similar to what was done with the Northwest Arm.
Fisher agrees that is the best way to protect Dartmouth Cove from unnecessary infill projects now and in the future.
Pictured is Dartmouth Cove. (Paul Hollingsworth/CTV Atlantic)
In April, Transport Canada approved Atlantic Road Construction and Paving to dump approximately 100,000 cubic meters of pyritic slate into the cove, angering many local people in the area.
However, the infill proposal from Atlantic Road Construction and Paving still needed approval from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) before infill could be considered.
The DFO confirmed to CTV News last week that they had notified the road construction company that more time was needed for public consultation and extended its review time.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/transport-canada-rescinding-approval-for-dartmouth-cove-infill-project-minister-s-office-1.6933039
