Province finds 86 issues with mega-campground project's environmental impact study

The province has asked the proponentof amega-campground inPointe-du-Chneto address dozens of errors and other issues in its environmental impact study before the environment minister considers whether to approve the project.

In a review dated June 27, Department of Environment project managerCrystaleHartyidentifies 86 points the Anglican Parish ofShediac, the project proponent,has to address in the impact study submitted in May.

The Anglican Church owns the landwhere the campground,big enough for 650 to 750 trailers,is set to be built.

The churchwould lease the land to a group of investors that used to include Health Minister Victor Boudreau and his longtime friend Michel Boudreau, whogave up their stake in the project after months of controversy.

• Only 2 investors left in controversial Shediac mega-campground project
• Shediac residents protest over water quality, mega-campground

In a letter to the parish, Hartychallenged the proponent's statement that the campground, which could be the largest in the Maritimes, would be"eco-friendly."

"It is stated in the registration document that the proposed project is a 4-star eco-friendly campground that prides itself in minimizing its impact on the environment," Hartywrote in thereview, which was obtained by residents.

"Can the proponent provide more detail on how this campground would differ from other campgrounds in the area in terms of eco-friendly practices?"

Harty's review also identifies inaccuracies with some of the calculations the project submitted.

For example, she said the environmental impact assessment underestimated the amount of drinking water that would be used by campers, at 7.3 million litres each summer instead of68 million.

The province also asks the proponent to conduct a traffic impact study to determine if already busy Shediac would be able to handle the added traffic from the hundreds of vehicles.

Questions about water quality

Harty's letter to the church also touches on issues of wastewater treatment.

It asks the parish for a written confirmation from the Greater Shediac Sewerage Commission that there is enough treatment capacity for the additional wastewater that will be coming from the campground, without compromising water quality in the Bay of Shediac nearby.

For months now, residents opposed to the campsite have been arguing there is a link between overdevelopment in Shediac and continuing water-quality problems at popular Parlee Beach, which has been plagued with fecal contamination for decades.

On Sunday, more than 200 of residentsmarched to voice their opposition to shoreline development, many in favour of a moratorium.

Harty's letter asks for more details on the design of the campsite sewage collection system, because portions of the land are at a lower elevation than the existing sewer line.

She also notes the risk of flooding and asks whether enough was done to mitigate the impact both to the environment and campsite infrastructure.

'High level of public interest'

The province also tells the church it has to keep the line of communication open with those expressing concerns with the project.

"Given the high level of public interest and concern related to this registration,"Harty wrote,"and the large volume of emails from members of the public requesting information on the consultation process for this project, the proponent is required to submit a public consultation plan that will have to be communicated to all those who have submitted questions to date."

Even though the campsite was approved by Shediac town council in 2014, it has generated fierce opposition from somePointe-du-Chneresidents, many of whom have submitted formal letters as part of the environmental impact assessment process.

Harty goes on to tell the parish it has to respond to all relevant issues raised and submit a summary report of all its efforts to talk to citizens before the environment minister can give the project the green light.

The Anglican Diocese of Fredericton did not respond to a request for an interview.

Environment Minister Serge Rousselle, according to the province, can either allowthe project, subject to conditions aimed at protectingthe environment, deny the project with the agreement of cabinet,or ask fora comprehensive review to assess the significance of the potential impacts..

The idea for thePointe-du-Chnecampground was born around a campfire in 2013, during a conversation between Michel Boudreau and Victor Boudreau, who was then leader of the opposition.

The project once had seven stakeholders backing it but is now being spearheaded only by Luc LeBlanc, owner of Modern Plumbing Inc., and a second, silent investor.

It would take an estimated two years to build and would not open before 2019.