MLA wants bridge debris cleaned up from Borden-Carleton beach

A P.E.I. MLA says the beaches surrounding the abandoned fabrication yardin Borden-Carleton, P.E.I., used to build the Confederation Bridge need to be cleaned up after erosion has exposed leftover industrial waste.

"This industrial waste, concrete,rebar, gravel, is falling down onto the beach, which is also affecting the clam bed in that shore,"saidBorden-KinkoraMLAJamie Fox.

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Fox said before the erosion started happening, there was alreadywaste sitting on the beach from when the bridge was constructed in 1997.

"It needs to be cleaned up," he said.

Undeveloped since construction

Strait Crossingoriginally purchased the land to build components of theConfederation Bridge during construction, but the provincebought the land in 2009 for just over $350,000, and the area has remained undeveloped, despite several attempts to restore the property,including the removal ofthe giant concrete pillars that are on the site.

Fox said he'd like the province or Strait Crossing to clean up the area before potentially more industrial waste is revealed.

"I'm worried ...the environment is something that I take very seriously," he said.

'Time to clean up'

Borden-Carleton resident Laurel Palmer Thompsonsaid the shoreline along the fabrication yard is an important area for residents and tourists who spend time on the beach.

"It's just a nice area of our town. We have great views of the bridge and water views," she said.

Thompson said she's noticed pieces of industrial waste sitting on the beach for several years.

"It's probably time to clean up those areas ... so that we have a pristine beach," Palmer Thompson said.

Strait Crossing responds

In the original contract for construction on the Confederation Bridge, Strait Crossing agreed to return the site to its original state.

Companygeneral manager Michel Le Chasseursaid the beach is no longer their responsibility since the province now owns the land.

"When we sold it to the province at the time we transferred that responsibility," he said. "They're the owners. It's up to the province to decide what they're going to do with it."

Le Chasseur added that he's not aware of any debris from the bridge surrounding the fabrication yard, but will likely investigate the area in the coming week.

Province waiting for formal request

During Friday's question period, Fox asked the government when the beach would be cleaned up.

Economic Development Minister HeathMacDonaldsaid he had not been briefed on the issue, but that his department is in regular contact with the mayor and council of Borden-Carleton.

"If we get a formal request from the town ofBorden-Carleton, we would certainly go out and take a look at it, in compliance with the other departments that would be involved in this process," MacDonald said.

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