Dominion Beach amenities to get upgrades starting today
A popular Cape Breton beach is getting $87,000 worth of infrastructure improvements.
Dominion Beach in Dominion, N.S., is getting an upgrade to its utility building, which houses washrooms, a change room and showers.
The work will begin today.
Cape Breton Centre MLA Dave Wilton said the building will get a new roof, siding and doors, to go along with some work on the inside.
It's part of a $1.5-million project that began three years ago.
Wilton says people want the beach protected.
"Most people that I've talked to love the beach. It's part of our Cape Breton heritage," he said.
Wilton says he personally thought beach use was declining but he's learned from Department of Natural Resources staff working at the beach that as many as 2,500 to 3,000 people can be found daily on the strand.
The improvement project began three years ago when DNR installed a berm to protect the beach from tidal damage.
The berm itself was damaged last winter, Wilton says.
"Over the winter months, the berm that was put in place, the pebble rock that was on top, it kind of got washed away, and it caused these bore holes in the rocks," he said.
The berm was never intended as a walkway, Wilton says, but people have been using it that way. That, in combination with wave action, led to the damage. Signs have now been posted indicating a no walking area.
Claire Boudreau of Glace Bay walks along the beach's old sandy boardwalk daily with her 92-year-old mother.
She says the beach and boardwalk are important to a lot of people, so the improvements are welcome.
"I like to get out and do some exercises. It's a good way to do it and the scenery is great," she said. "We walk right to the end and back."
Brittany Petite and her daughter Avery have been spending a lot of time at the beach this summer.
She says improvements to the main building are important.
"With the kids coming out with all the sand on them, it's a nice place to get washed and changed."
The final phase of the improvements, slated for next year, is a new boardwalk.
