Contracts Awarded for Hurricane Clean Up

Contracts have been awarded for the clean up of provincial parks that were damaged as a result of Hurricane Juan. Many of the harder hit parks that are operated by the Department of Natural Resources are located in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and have been closed to the public since the hurricane because of safety issues.

"I'm pleased that we are moving forward to get our parks back up and running for the coming park season," said Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurlburt. "I understand that the public is anxious to get back into our parks to use and enjoy them."

The clean-up work is divided into three categories: vegetation removal, infrastructure repairs and trail clean up.

Contracts were recently awarded for the removal of damaged trees, brush, stumps and roots in Porters Lake and Dollar Lake provincial parks. R. MacLean Forestry Ltd. of Antigonish was the lowest bidder for Porters Lake park. That work is valued at $46,750. PAL Forestry of Annapolis Royal will carry out the clean up at Dollar Lake park, with work valued at $4,000. The department is finalizing tender details on other properties and expects to award the tender for HRM's Oakfield and Laurie provincial parks soon.

Specific details for the clean up at Cole Harbour Heritage Park and McNabs and Lawlor Islands provincial park are still being developed. The department expects to issue tenders for work on some of the trails in the near future. Other provincial parks that had minor vegetation damage from the hurricane have already been cleaned up, or will be in the spring, when seasonal staff return to work.

"The department is following through on its goal to get our parks ready to start opening on Friday, May 21," said Mr. Hurlburt. "Unfortunately, we also expect some clean up and repairs to continue on through the next year, creating some changes in areas open and available for public use."

Repairs at several beach parks in HRM -- including MacCormacks Beach, Lawrencetown Beach, Martinique Beach, Rainbow Haven Beach, Crystal Crescent Beach, and Conrads Beach -- is in the final planning stages. The completion of this work depends upon weather conditions.

Clean up on developed trails is also underway or partially completed and includes the removal of safety hazards and debris, as well as bridge repairs and trail reconstruction.