A fence like the one featured in the photo will be erected following Labour Day on the Port Elgin Breakwater to give Fisheries and Oceans Canada an opportunity to look at the substructure and start a refurbishment.

Hub Staff

The historic Port Elgin Main Beach Breakwater will have its last hurrah of 2017 during the Labour Day fireworks celebration Sept 4 as its owner, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, frequently referred to as DFO, will be temporarily closing the well-used pathway to perform an engineering assessment of the entire substructure.

The well-loved breakwall has deteriorated over the years with portions having washed-away exposing rebar and unsafe surfaces. Jayne Jagelewski, Director of Community Services for the Town of Saugeen Shores, addressed the issue in January 2017.

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In a report announcing the temporary closure of the breakwall during the August 28 Committee of Whole, Jagelewski stressed that the DFO is looking for short- and long-term solutions with an expected completion date of March 31, 2018. It was also stated that the DFO will assume payment responsibility for the project.

“The municipality does not own the breakwater, the breakwater is a part of the agreement that we have with the DFO that includes the harbour” said Jagelewski, who told councillors that a large fence will be erected for safety reasons and enforcement and monitoring will not be the Town’s responsibility.

Information included in the staff report to councillors August 28 from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.