Port Elgin Main Beach, total beach area in orange hatching, 20,000 metres squared.

Hub Staff

An information report was presented to Saugeen Shores Council May 8 informing them about beachfront upkeep in Southampton and Port Elgin beaches including Gobles Grove and Main Beach. Jayne Jagelewski, Director of Community Services, reported that mechanical beach grooming provided by Snobelon AG Inc., has been scheduled and confirmed beginning June 19, July 10, July 31 and, if necessary, August 21.

In the report Jagelewski said the schedule reflects historic heavy traffic times. Snobelon AG Inc., has provided service at the Southampton Main Beach three to four times a summer season in the past, at a cost of approximately $3,000.

The 2017 operating budget allocated an additional $9,000 to provide the same level of service on the Port Elgin Main Beach as well as Gobles Grove. Southampton Beach grooming will take place from High Street to Chantry View Drive and from Chantry View Drive to Island Street. Port Elgin Main Beach grooming will take up the circumference from the harbour and past Izzard Street; while grooming at Gobles Grove will cover the well-used area beginning at Bruce Road 25 and moving south. The financial impact for three beach rakings would total $8,000, with an additional $2,400 if the waterfront is groomed for a fourth time.

Councillor Mike Myatt was concerned that Eidts Grove was not included on the grooming list, calling it a “forgotten beach”, and said that during his term on Council he has received numerous phone calls from residents and tourists about the lack of maintenance. He then asked that Town Staff surf-rake the beach south of Gobles Grove twice a year.

Jagelewski told Council that “finding a balance with our waterfronts will always be a challenge” and went onto say the Waterfront Advisory Committee met at Edits Grove in 2016 and determined it “a prime beach to remove machinery” and that Town Staff should “hand-bomb” the area which was done in 2016 and “that was a process that we look at continuing this year.” The Director of Community Services said staff doesn't recommend raking in the area but “we’ll continue to provide a level of service in a different forms, cognizant of the fact of impact that heavy machinery can have on our beaches.”

Southampton Beach, north section High Street to Chantry View Drive and south section Chantry View Drive to Island Street, total beach area in orange hatching, 47,000 metres squared.

Gobles Grove Beach, total beach area in orange hatching, 12,000 metres squared.