News Release
Opposition Growing to Sobey's Infill Project
(Wednesday, December 5/2001)-- Federal regulations leave Halifax Regional Municipality and Bedford residents who are opposed to infilling of Moirs Pond in a Catch-22 situation-they can't fight to have the move by Sobey's stopped, until after the pond is in-filled, Bedford Councillor Len Goucher said today.
Councillor Goucher said the decision-making process at this point lies entirely with the federal government-- municipal jurisdiction occurs only after the new land has been created.
The Councillor said Sobey's Leased Properties Limited wants to infill the historic pond, which is located next to its 24-hour store in Bedford, in order to dispose of pyritic slate from the site of its Fall River shopping centre. It hopes to eventually use the newly-created land for future development.
He said he has been told by Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials that he and other residents opposed to the infilling can't appeal through the federal government's environmental process to stop the move until after the pond is actually in-filled. Initially at this level, the process is very technical in nature and limits response from area residents.
The Councillor said "It's a little late to stop the infilling, after it's been done. Moirs Pond is part of the Moirs Mill Interpretative Centre, which is a provincial heritage site. I have been inundated with telephone calls and e-mail from Bedford residents and others opposed to this move by Sobey's."
Councillor Goucher said federal and provincial legislation supercedes any by-laws that HRM may have to prevent the infilling, so it must abide by those regulations. He added that he has been in contact with the Member of Parliament for the Bedford area, Geoff Regan, in hopes of developing a strategy to draw greater public attention to the infill and to rally greater public opposition to it.
Councillor Goucher said a public meeting to discuss the Moirs Pond infill will be held Monday, January 14, 2002, at the Basinview Elementary School in Bedford, beginning at 7 p.m.
"If it means getting the residents of Bedford and other areas to participate in a letter-writing campaign to the Sobey family in Stellarton, then we are prepared to do it. The people of Bedford have been good to Sobey's (store), so Sobey's should keep this in mind when considering their options to infilling Moirs Pond. Sobey's is a valued corporate citizen of Bedford, and I hope they consider public opinion as a key issue in their decision-making process, " he said.
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Councillor Len Goucher
(902) 476-0021
