Sand Cove residents say slope failure fix could cost less than $1M

People in the west Saint John neighbourhood of Sand Cove say it could cost less than $1 millionto save their homes, along with the adjacent city road and its water and sewer lines.

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At least five waterfront homes in the area are now threatened by slope failure and related erosion, and most of them have already seen damage to decks, walkways andfoundations.

But any potential fix would require an engineering study, which would have to be funded.

"Nobody wants to pay for it," said JohnL'Aventure, one of the residentswhose home is threatened.

We have to protect all thatthe residents and the city infrastructure.- Coun. Bill Farren

"The city, we think, has an obligation to keep the road open to the Irving park and to us," he said.

L'Aventure says discussions he has had with a contractor and others show a stone seawall could be built below the hightide line at McLarens Beach, linking with similar walls that have been in place for decades to the east andthe west.

He says he'sbeen advised it could be built using armour stone and shot rock for less than$1 million.

The total cost would rise to $2 million should the decision be made to backfill the area between the wall and the beach.

L'Aventure argues that cost would be less than rerouting Sand Cove Road along with its water, sewer and storm drain lines.

"If the city's going to fix something, maybe they can fix it to everybody's advantage, maybe with a little tweaking it will suit everybody," said L'Aventure.

Coun. Bill Farren, who represents a west side ward, says he will push for funding for such a study, which could cost $100,000or more, and believes his fellow councillors will agree.

"A person's home is very important to an individual," said Farren.

"And we also have city infrastructure there, water and sewage running by on the road, so we have to protect all that, the residents and the city infastructure."

Farren says an initial engineering report looking into potential solutions is expected any day.

Only then can a more detailed study be considered.