FAQ’s ONE DARTMOUTH COVE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the ONE DARTMOUTH COVE Remediation Project?

The project will see the safe placement of fill material into a 2.7-hectare water lot in Dartmouth Cove, in a strip of land that extends about 90 meters from the shoreline. Once complete, this project will create approximately 18,250 m² (4.5 acres) of usable land available for private and public uses. This project will make development in the city more affordable, sustainable, and create enhanced waterfront access and land suitable for future development for the benefit of the community. 

How far beyond Halifax Harbour will this infill extend? Are you filling in all of Dartmouth Cove?

No, this project does not infill all of Dartmouth Cove.

This project proposes adding a strip of land along the shoreline that will extend the site by approximately 90 meters. This will create approximately 18,250 m² (4.5 acres) of usable land available for private and public use. There is a proposed exclusion zone of 56 metres along the COVE facilities to avoid any navigational impacts to their important work.

How long will this project take to complete?

Infilling and remediation efforts at the project site will take less than two years and may be done as quickly as one year. The complete duration of the project, including environmental monitoring, may be up to six years.

Will access to the Dartmouth Waterfront walking trail be affected?

If the project proceeds as planned, we will keep the trail open and maintain access for most of the project. There may be times when this section of the trail isn’t accessible for safety reasons during the construction period. During these periods, alternative routes will be available for pedestrians to access. 

ONE DARTMOUTH COVE Remediation Project will maintain and improve access to the Dartmouth waterfront for neighbours and tourists with the installation of a new recreational trail along the new rockweed beach seawall for public use, improving the views for all trail users.

What is this area going to be used for once construction is complete?

Development planning is still in early stages, and we are committed to engaging with the city and local community to welcome ideas and feedback for the future use of the site. The renderings on this website show possible uses for the land only and are not reflective of any specific building locations, scale, design or style. Those would be determined by working collaboratively through HRM’s planning processes to determine best and optimal uses for the new 4.5-acre site through a Development Agreement (DA).

Why was this location chosen for infilling?

The water lot is in an area of Dartmouth Cove with a 100-year history as a disposal site for raw sewage and other industrial activity, which make it of relatively poor quality and low productivity to support significant populations of marine life and unsafe for human interaction. Nevertheless, we are fully committed to offsetting project impacts to any marine life in the area by the creation of enhanced marine habitats to support fish and other marine life.

To further enhance the area's ecological integrity, the project includes the creation of an intertidal Rockweed Beach along the waterfront, aiming to restore the shoreline to a high-productivity marine environment. Additionally, Reef Balls (artificial reefs) will be strategically positioned along the project site's slopes, fostering marine vegetation growth and serving as a habitat for various aquatic species, including fish.

Once filled, it will create enhanced waterfront access for future development in the heart of the Dartmouth Waterfront, building on the growth and momentum in the area while maintaining the walking trail and access to the waterfront.

What kind of materials are going to be used to infill the water lot?

The materials used in this project include rock that is excavated from the ground during construction, and quarry rock. The excavated material includes pyritic slate, which is a naturally occurring acid-bearing rock that is common in Halifax and Dartmouth. When it is exposed to air and precipitation, it produces acid runoff that enters our waterways and is harmful to the surrounding environment. The safest place to dispose of this slate is saltwater because it neutralizes contaminants that would otherwise pollute the area surrounding onshore disposal sites. The pyritic slate will be encased by quarry rock that is free from pollutants.

How will you unload this material?

Fill will be transported to the offload area by tandem trucks, and an excavator will be used to push infill into the water lot.

How will you ensure material remains in the designated project area?

As is standard practice, a silt curtain will be installed around the outer limit of the infill area prior to starting any work. This standard approach has been implemented in previous infilling projects. Infilling activities will be strictly monitored, and additional steps will be taken to ensure infill material remains within the designated project area.

Why can't the waste go in a landfill?

Pyritic slate is naturally acidic, and the low oxygen levels in saltwater are ideal for neutralizing the potentially harmful effects of the slate. In a landfill, the slate remains acidic and can leach acid into nearby groundwater, rivers, or lakes. Placing the pyritic slate in saltwater is the safest way to neutralize the rock and minimize environmental impacts.

Will disposing of the structural fill in the harbour negatively impact the ecosystem?

The water lot is in an area of Dartmouth Cove with a 100-year history as a disposal site for raw sewage and other industrial activity, which make it of relatively poor quality and low productivity to support significant populations of marine life. Nevertheless, we are fully committed to offsetting project impacts to any marine life in the area by the creation of enhanced marine habitats to support fish and other marine life.

To further enhance the area's ecological integrity, the project includes the creation of an intertidal Rockweed Beach along the waterfront, aiming to restore the shoreline to a high-productivity marine environment. Additionally, Reef Balls (artificial reefs) will be strategically positioned along the project site's slopes, fostering marine vegetation growth and serving as a habitat for various aquatic species, including fish.

What are the environmental impacts of this project? 

The water lot is in an area of Dartmouth Cove with a 100-year history as a disposal site for raw sewage and industrial sludge on its seabed. This makes it of very poor quality to support significant populations of marine life and unsafe for direct human interaction. Nevertheless, our project is committed to mitigating any environmental impacts to marine life by:

• Creating enhanced marine habitats to support fish and other marine life

• Further enhancing the area's ecological integrity, with the creation of an intertidal Rockweed Beach along the new waterfront, aiming to restore the shoreline to a high-productivity marine environment. 

• The addition of Reef Balls (artificial reefs), strategically positioned along the project site's slopes, fostering marine vegetation growth and serving as a habitat for various aquatic species, including fish.

Why hasn't the community been consulted before this project began?

No infilling has begun. Research and planning with environmental experts has been ongoing for two years as we explored how to safely restore Dartmouth Cove with minimal day to day impact on residents.

We understand that the community is concerned and wants more information about this project. We are committed to providing additional information and meaningful engagement opportunities with the community and government as we move through this process.

Has this been done before?

Similar projects have been completed at several sites around the Halifax Harbour in recent years like King’s Wharf in Dartmouth, Bedford Basin, and Bishops Landing in Halifax. These sites have since been converted into both public community spaces and residential housing.

What are you doing to address additional truck traffic and dust and noise at the site?

The project will follow all existing construction bylaws and rules currently in place for construction activities in HRM. These rules include consideration for both noise and dust caused by temporary construction work.

Will residents lose the harbour views along the Trans Canada Trail/Dartmouth Harbourwalk Trail?

There will be no loss of harbour views along the Trans Canada Trail/Dartmouth Harbourwalk Trail.

The ONE DARTMOUTH COVE Remediation Project will maintain and improve access to the Dartmouth waterfront for neighbours and tourists with the installation of a new recreational trail along the new seawall for public use improving the views for all trail users. 

As the property owners, we are committed to enhancing the Dartmouth Harbourwalk Trail and are willing to consider a cantilevered design that would put the trail almost out above the water, if desirable, which would enhance the waterside experience for all users.

Doesn’t infilling mean the loss of an important natural asset for Dartmouth?

The project proposes to infill a narrow strip along the shoreline that will extend the site by approximately 90 metres, creating approximately 18,250 m2 (4.5 acres) of usable land available for productive uses including public infrastructure, parks, recreation assets and housing. The proposed infill will be aligned with neighbouring properties to maintain the vast majority of Dartmouth Cove. (see image below). 

Will this project impact navigation in Dartmouth Cove? 

The area being infilled isn’t currently used for active navigation as there are no facilities or destinations along the existing shoreline.  Navigation of commercial, recreation and servicing vessels occurs in the central cove which won’t be impacted by the infill.

What are you doing about the navigational concerns raised by COVE?

As part of the federal permitting application process, we have held meetings with COVE to understand their needs, and we will ensure there will be no navigational issues. They will continue to have full use of their floating dock. We have no interest in negatively affecting the current users of the cove. Our mission is to save Dartmouth Cove, add usable public spaces, public infrastructure to the site to improve enjoyment and livability in the area.

What are the benefits of this project to the local community and the province? 

• ONE DARTMOUTH COVE Remediation Project will play a crucial role in saving Dartmouth Cove by responsibly capping the industrial and sewage sludge currently on the seabed, keeping contaminants contained while creating a new fish habitat that aligns with the City’s efforts to daylight Sawmill Creek. 

• The project will provide a much-needed site to sequester pyritic slate from vital housing and hospital developments in our province —an increasingly urgent requirement for all new housing developments in HRM and the province as they try to respond to rapid growth in Nova Scotia.

• By converting this area into usable land, the project directly addresses pressing housing demands by creating opportunities for new residential development, ultimately fostering a vibrant and diverse neighbourhood in line with the Centre Plan. 

• The project fits within the larger vision of the Downtown Dartmouth Waterfront Revitalization Project which seeks to improve access, connectivity, cultural activity and future development opportunities along the Dartmouth Waterfront. From the Woodside terminal to Alderney Landing and including the Dartmouth Cove, this project will require a built interface between the shoreline and the water. a vehicular and emergency access route to help realize HRM’s Dartmouth Waterfront Revitalization Plan

• Once usable, ONE DARTMOUTH COVE Remediation Project will provide improved emergency access to the Cove and create enhanced waterfront access for future development in the heart of the Dartmouth Waterfront, building on the growth and momentum in the area while improving the walking trail and providing more access and public uses for residents and visitors. 

• The project will provide additional berthing space for recreational and commercial vessels, and additional waterfront parkland and spaces for active recreation like fishing.

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