Province Funds LaPlanche River Aboiteau Engineering Study

The province is protecting agricultural marshlands by investing $500,000 for an engineering study to assess and design a replacement for the LaPlanche River aboiteau in Cumberland Co.

MLA Brian Skabar, on behalf of Agriculture Minister John MacDonell, made the announcement today, Nov. 21, as part of the province's new capital plan to make life better for families.

"Marshlands, and the aboiteaux and dykes that support them, are an important part of agriculture and the landscape of Nova Scotia," said Mr. Skabar. "The province is doing the work needed to protect valuable agricultural resources."

Mr. Skabar said the engineering study will provide the necessary information to make informed decisions on the best and most cost-effective way to replace the LaPlanche River aboiteau.

The aboiteau is part of a system that protects the Town of Amherst and about 1,800 acres of marshland, primarily used for farmland, from tidal flooding.

"The Town of Amherst looks forward to working with the Department of Agriculture to ensure that the replacement of the aboiteau is designed and implemented in a way that continues to protect the area while respecting previous commitments the department has made regarding the logistical and financial impacts on our wastewater treatment facility, which is under construction on the marsh," said Amherst Mayor Robert Small.

Study results are expected by the end of next year.

"The Municipality of Cumberland is very pleased to see the commitment of this funding, which is necessary to ensure the aboiteau is correctly engineered and located," said Keith Hunter, warden of the Municipality of Cumberland County. "This structure is a key component of the dyke system that protects the agricultural lands, transportation links and other infrastructure in existence and under construction on the marshlands between Amherst and Fort Lawrence."

The Department of Agriculture protects agricultural marshlands by monitoring 240 kilometres of dykes and 260 aboiteaux that protect more than 44,000 acres of agricultural marshlands.

Supporting infrastructure is part of protecting 5,800 jobs in an agriculture industry that adds $400 million to the Nova Scotia economy.

The province's new capital plan will invest millions of dollars to make life better for families. It will create good jobs, grow the economy and provide better health care for Nova Scotians. Details on investments will be announced in the months ahead.