What is Happening with Dartmouth Cove: A Brief Primer
You may have heard through the grapevine — i.e. social media or local news — that there is something up with Dartmouth Cove.
In fact, Dartmouth Cove has become the site of an ongoing dispute over private land, public access, and the importance of the common good — one that has lasted for years and still isn’t finished.
Here’s a brief primer on what’s happening with Dartmouth Cove:
March 2022: An application is submitted to Transport Canada as part of their Navigation Protection Program, titled “Dartmouth Cove Waterfront Access Project.”
The proposal is to partially fill Dartmouth Cove with pyritic slate and non-acidic quarry rock taken from nearby excavation sites. It also expresses the intention to build a temporary road that will allow access to the property.
The “Project Area” for this infill is a private water lot located along Dartmouth Cove owned by “Nova Scotia Limited.”
The argument is that the infilled area will provide better waterfront access and also enable future development.
May 2022: The federal government, at this point, decides to seek public feedback on the proposal and some local officials are not having it.
Councillor Sam Austin says the property is going to be zoned as parkland (read: undevelopable).
Dartmouth-Cole Harbour MP Darren Fisher agrees that Dartmouth Cove shouldn’t just become a dumping ground for fill (read their full comments here).
By the end of the month, over 150 people gather to oppose the proposal. Part of their argument is that the project area forms part of the waterfront and might impact a multi-use path that connects Old Ferry Road to downtown Dartmouth.
November 2023: A proposed bylaw going to city council aims to restrict the infilling of Halifax’s Northwest Arm. The group of residents trying to protect Dartmouth Cove argues that it should also be included in the bylaw.
The bylaw is approved, and a report on Dartmouth Cove is to come later.
By this time, some residents have organized into the “Save Dartmouth Cove” collective.
March 2024: Halifax Regional Council releases a report on the “Downtown Dartmouth Revitalization Project.”
The report reveals they want to create a new, mixed-use neighbourhood around Dartmouth Cove that will exist as an extension of the downtown and bring cruise facilities into Dartmouth.
Part of the plan is to create a new emergency access route that better connects the waterfront.
April 2024: The busiest month yet on the Dartmouth Cove front.
To start, Transport Canada approves the proposed project to fill Dartmouth Cove, saying that the infilling will enable future development.
However, this is only one of two approvals needed for the project to go ahead— the Department of Fisheries and Oceans also has to sign off on it.
Meanwhile, many residents are unhappy about this approval, including the city councilor Sam Austin who calls it a “disappointing” decision when there has been so much community objection (read more here).
The community group Save Dartmouth Cove launches their Instagram page and pushes residents to reach out to politicians in order to halt the proposal.
Finally, the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship takes Transport Canada to court over their approval of the project.
June 2024: Another busy month for Dartmouth Cove.
Local MP Darren Fisher is sent a cease-and-desist letter from the owner of the company, Atlantic Road Construction and Paving (ARCP) because he is encouraging residents to contact all levels of government to stop the infill project.
Meanwhile, city councillor Sam Austin pushes the Halifax Mayor Mike Savage to get Transport Canada to take back its approval. He also wants the Mayor to ask the Fisheries and Oceans Department to wait on granting permits.
By the end of the month, Transport Canada has started the process to rescind their approval of the project — a big win for the community.
At the same time, Halifax Regional Council approves a motion to create a bylaw that will protect Dartmouth Cove from infilling.
August 2024: Atlantic Road Construction and Paving (ARCP) — the company proposing the infill — threatens to indefinitely block access to the Harbourfront Trail at Dartmouth Cove.
After ARCP actually puts up concrete barriers at the entrances to the public trail, Build Nova Scotia and the HRM call for them to be removed.
Save Dartmouth Cove is up in arms about this erection of barriers and calls it an action done “out of spite” on their social media page.
By the end of the month, the barriers are removed and the trail can once again be accessed.
September 2024: As of right now, the HRM is going forward with their intended bylaw amendment that will restrict the infilling of Dartmouth Cove.
Transport Canada continues to roll back their approval of the proposal.
ARCP continues to push for the project to be approved.
Stay tuned (and keep your fingers crossed) to find out what happens next.
Lead Photo: Save Dartmouth Cove