Sarnia eyeing more spending for eroding shoreline
Article content
Steadfast spending over the next several years is needed to keep Sarnia’s shoreline from eroding, the city’s construction manager says.
“We can’t let our other municipal priorities take away from this because, if we lose it, we don’t get it back,” said Rob Williams.
His comments come after a recent presentation to council by Bright’s Grove resident Bill Miller, urging council to increase spending along Lake Huron’s southern coast, where failing steel sheet pile wall has been replaced piecemeal with armour stone revetment on an emergency basis in recent years as waves crash through.
Miller, pointing out the draw the waterfront holds for people and events, urged council to borrow if necessary and make saving the shoreline from erosion its legacy.
Council voted for staff to assess the situation and report back.
That report will come later this fall, Williams said.
Meanwhile, Sarnia is investing $1.2 million for armour stone revetment this year, using a combination of this year’s $600,000 allocation and leftovers from previous capital budgets that were never enough on their own to tackle a project, Williams said.
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority is also chipping in $250,000 – via Water Infrastructure Erosion Control funding from the province – pushing overall spending, combined with the city, to about $1.5 million for repairs between Helen Avenue and Kenwick Street in Bright’s Grove, Blackwell Side Road Beach in Sarnia, and Christina Street Beach in Sarnia, he said.
The work is expected to begin in October or November.
It’s a start, he said.
Sarnia’s capital backlog last fall listed $32 million in needed shoreline protection work.
Meanwhile, water levels on the Great Lakes have spiked 40 to 45 centimetres since this time last year, Williams said, increasing the threat of damage from fall and winter storms.
“To be honest, it’s a little bit frightening going into November with this high water,” he said, noting, as of August, water levels here were just three to four centimetres short of the all-time high.
A $473,000 city account specifically earmarked for emergency shoreline repairs – Sarnia traditionally has used capital spending for emergency repairs – is already tapped out and more repairs are being planned now for the Rainbow Cove area and other spots in Bright’s Grove, Williams said.
The problem can’t be fixed all at once, he added.
“Because there’s only so much work that can be done in a year and so much contractor availability and so much material as far as armour stone is concerned,” he said.
Quality would slide if the city bit off more, he said.
“Right now we’re happy with what we’re proposing this year,” he said. “This is the most money we’ve spend on shoreline in the 15 years that I’ve been with the city. And right now, we are looking at an increase in the 2020 budget.”
A federal $8-million grant to the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority – about $5 million for Sarnia and $3 million for St. Clair Township projects – for shoreline improvement spending will also push investment locally, he said, since 60 per cent matching funds are required from the municipality.
He agreed with Miller that the situation is urgent.
“We’re in critical times and we need to budget accordingly and act accordingly and try to keep what’s ours,” he said.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.