Shediac council approves 3-year extension to campground

A controversial campground development in Shediac has been given a three-year extension by town council after a legal challenge has stalled construction efforts.

Construction has yet to start on the 750-unit campground despite Shediac council giving its approval to the project in 2014.

• Trial ordered in Shediac campground land lease controversy

The plan has been stalled by a court challenge over whether the proponents can lease land from the Anglican Parish. A Court of Queen's Bench justice has ordered a trial to decide the matter.

Shediac-Beaubassin-Cap-Pelé MLA Victor Boudreau is a partner in the proposed campground. Shediac town council voted to grant a three-year extension on Monday despite local concerns of water quality in Parlee Beach this summer

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Shediac Mayor Jacques LeBlanc said he is proud of how the town council responded to the developer's request for a 3-year extension.

"There are more conditions that are attached to the campground also, or the proposed campground project," he said.

LeBlanc said one of the two conditions includes an environmental impact assessment on the proposed development.

The second condition requires a plan that sets out the steps of the development be submitted to the town council.

"It'll give us a lot more information for council to make a clearer decision in the future," LeBlanc said.

Disappointed by decision

Tim Borlase, a local resident, was disappointed in the decision.

"We feel that their decision is short sighted," he said. "If the campground is to go ahead it may draw tourists initially, but if they get to the beach and they can't use the water, because of the number of people at the beach, I think they won't stay here very long."

The water quality at Parlee Beach has had more ratings of poor than good in the month of August.

The province tested the water at Parlee Beach for bacteria such as E. coli and fecal streptococcus, which comes from the intestines of mammals at the beach.

Borlase is concerned having more people on the beach will have an effect on the fecal content of the water.

"The overflow of water goes directly into Shediac Bay so that means things like cigarette butts, whatever a dog leaves behind, anything off the tar pads on a trailer park, that's all going directly into the bay," said Borlase.

Shediac's mayor said he is also concerned about the quality of water because of the draw of the area as a tourist destination for Atlantic Canada.

"We are a growing community so moving forward we make sure that all our development is very well planned."

Possible causes

David Joly, a microbiologist, said some possible causes of poor water quality could include big crowds, birds or dogs, higher water temperatures or over-development.

"This summer was one of the warmer summers we've had," he said. "If the temperature is on the rise and the people going to the beach is on the rise as well, then I guess we'll see this issue more and more."

Joly said other beaches in the area don't have the high amounts of bacteria.

"Maybe then it's a direct relationship with the higher number of people that we have at Parlee Beach," said Joly.

If people were concerned about water quality in some areas Joly said they can stick to simply walking in the water.

"I know what the dangers are so if I see that the water quality is poor then I would not let my kids swim underwater," said Joly.

The campground would be located on the wooded land between Parlee Beach Provincial Park and the road to Pointe-du-Chêne.