Proposed Dredge Material Management Site - Toney River

The Department of Fisheries & Oceans is seeking public input on a proposed dredge site in Toney River.  The deadline to have your submissions into the Federal Government has been extended to Nov. 14th.  The following information was provided by DFO to our Member of Parliament: 

  • Dredging at Toney River is required to ensure the safe navigability and berthage of vessels at Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Small Craft Harbours (SCH) facilities. Like many harbours, dredging is required at Toney River in the spring of each year to support the fishing industry and provide harbour access.
  • In Nova Scotia, DFO is subject to provincial regulations and standards to dispose of dredge materials from harbour basins and channels.
  • DFO is working closely with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and the Province of Nova Scotia on options to dispose of dredging materials from various harbours, in accordance with federal and provincial regulations.
  • These options include finding alternate disposal or uses for the material being dredged such as disposal at sea, beach nourishment, as well as building containment cells on DFO-SCH’s properties, including at Toney River.
  • DFO is in the process of acquiring a property in Toney River to develop a Dredge Material Management Site, including a containment cell.
  • The site was selected for its proximity to the harbour. As Toney River harbour is dredged in the spring when road weight restrictions are in place, reduced trucking activity makes this site the most practical and economically-feasible option.
  • Any containment cells and facilities built and operated by the Department follow applicable federal and provincial regulations. As well, DFO is committed to working with Indigenous organizations and local stakeholders throughout the process.
  • At Toney river, approximately half of the dredged materials will be placed along the eastern shoreline for beach nourishment. The rest of the material will be put in the proposed new containment cell, which is currently the only viable option for the management of the harbour’s dredge materials.
  • The Toney River Dredge Material Management Site will be established to meet the dredging and disposal needs arising from current and future annual maintenance dredging activities at the harbour.  

A petition asking DFO to change the location of the proposed dredge management sight (PID 65210932) will be available daily @ the Toney River Hall between the hours of 3:30 pm to 5:00 p.m. up to Nov. 14th for anyone wishing to sign the document.  

If you are not able to sign the petition, please feel free to contact Scott Burley at scott.burley@pwgsa-tpsgc.gc.ca (992-237-5392) or Sean Fraser at sean.fraser@parl.gc.ca (1-844-641-5886) to express your concerns