Hub Staff

Port Elgin gem Eidts Grove will receive two mechanical beach surf-raking sessions this summer after an amendment was made to the 2017 Beach Maintenance Plan during the May 23 Committee of Whole.

The spot which Councillor Mike Myatt had previously referred to as the “forgotten beach” was slated to be hand-raked by staff based on water levels, but following the amendment put forth by Councillors Mike Myatt and Dave Myette, the beachfront south of Gobles Grove will receive the upgrade.

The mechanical beach maintenance will take place from 65 Saugeen Beach Road beginning at Juniper Drive. Director of Community Services Jayne Jagelewski commented from a staff perspective in regards to the hand-raking that was the standard for Eidts Grove and said that it made sense to look at different approaches in maintaining “our beaches.”

Jagelewski explained that at Port Elgin Main Beach and Gobles Grove heavy machinery and grading has caused wet beaches over time. “We’ve lost our relic sand because it’s dried out over time, we’ve graded it.” She went onto say that Eidts is not a heavy beach and staff didn’t say they would not maintain it, but rather they planned to groom the beach without using heavy machinery.

The vote for the amended 2017 Beach Maintenance Plan passed with Mayor Mike Smith being the sole vote against.