While some of the damage caused by storm surges and high winds over the weekend in Quidi Vidi Village and the Outer Battery may not fall within the jurisdiction of the City of St. John's, Deputy Mayor Shannie Duff believes the city has a role to play in bringing agencies together to address the situation.
Duff and Ward 2 Coun. Frank Galgay visited the two areas Sunday to assess damage caused by the storm to fishing wharves and sheds.
"I think it's fair to say that we were quite shocked to look at the damage," Duff said, while voicing concern during a council meeting Monday that she doesn't believe the shoreline at the Battery will withstand another couple of heavy winter storms without serious additional damage.
"What worried me - not any more, believe me, than the loss of some of the structures and the fact that at least one of the houses is seriously threatened - is the possibility of eroding of the road with continued battering from the sea," Duff said.
"I know this is our shoreline, this is part of the shoreline of the city of St. John's, and when these issues came up recently, for example in Ferryland, where the road was actually threatened by erosion of the shoreline, the municipality was front and centre trying to bring together the help and the agencies that could address that. It is way beyond the capability of individual residents."
Duff said some of the structures that fell into the sea or were heavily damaged were significant tourist attractions.
"So many people could visit there and actually get a sense of what the fishery was like. People may never have gotten to other fishing communities that were further away," she said.
Duff and Galgay plan to meet again Wednesday afternoon with a group of residents at the Outer Battery. Duff said she hopes to hear more from the residents about what everyone can do collectively to address this serious issue.
Galgay said they plan to bring with them one of the city's engineers to have a look at the road and embankment.
"The Outer Battery, in particular, and Quidi Vidi Village are two icons in the city of St. John's that attract literally thousands of people from all over the world and from all over our country. A lot of people use the hiking trail there. There's something distinctive and something unique about that particular area," Galgay said.
He's also hoping to see a co-operative effort involving the federal and provincial governments to address the storm damage.
Out of the informal meeting Sunday, Galgay said he and Duff were informed that a group of residents in the Outer Battery will form a citizens' committee to address not only the storm damage, but to look at the future potential of tourism in this particular area of the city.
dss@thetelegram.com
Taking stock
Cleanup and repairs were the order of the day Monday in the harbour of Quidi Vidi Village. Huge waves and high water levels from the weekend storm damaged and destroyed several structures along the shore. - Photo by Gary Hebbard/The Telegram
-
Published on
February 9, 2010
- Published on July 1, 2010
-
Deana Stokes Sullivan
St. John's councillors call for co-operative response on storm repairs
While some of the damage caused by storm surges and high winds over the weekend in Quidi Vidi Village and the Outer Battery may not fall within the jurisdiction of the City of St. John's, Deputy Mayor Shannie Duff believes the city has a role to play in bringing agencies together to address the situation.
Duff and Ward 2 Coun. Frank Galgay visited the two areas Sunday to assess damage caused by the storm to fishing wharves and sheds.
- Rate
- Top of the page
Comments
-
- brian
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:04:43
Fact - If these individuals wanted to rebuild these shanties today, as they were they would never get a permit to do so nor would any sensible insurance company carry them. Rebuilding them? I'm all for it - with a stamped set of engineer plans for a suitable foundation as well as a set of building plans that meet all residential / out building codes.
-
- SGN
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:03:45
Beware. If any of these structures are beyond repair and have to be demolished, the owners of these properties will be in for a rude awakening when they apply for a demolition permit and have to abide by the City of St. John's policies on the demolition of buildings and structures.
-
- MARY
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:58:10
LOOKS TO ME THAT THE YOUNG MAN IN THE BOAT HELPING HIS GRANDFATHER SECURE THE OUTHOUSE AND WHARF WERE TRYING TO PREVENT ANY MORE DAMAGE TO THEVILLAGE STAGES. I DON'T SUPPOSE THEIR LIFEJACKETS WERE IN THE MISSING STAGE????
-
- Willie
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:55:56
When I take the dory for a row around my harbour I don't wear my lifejacket either. Residents, like me, know every inch of that water and it's like being home on the couch. What could happen?
Willie Hunt
Pouch Cove NL -
- David W
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:48:50
Shannie should be called Councillor For Downtown not Councillor At Large. No wonder our taxes are so high....she says no development and lets help pay for personal property damaged by the storm. While you're at it could you help me pay for my water damage that my insurance company won't cover. Oh, that's right, I don't live in the downtown heritage area.
-
- JM
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:48:41
Council isn't proposig to pay out of pocket to have these areas fixed. No where in that article did it say that. Put your glasses on, read slowly, and stop jumping to conclusions. They're trying to coordinate the federal and provincial agencies to help the families effected by the storm to help rebuild what was lost and prevent the remaining structures teetering on the edge from falling into the harbours. If a road is washed out then the city has to foot the repair bill, and if they're lucky they might get some funding from the provincial pot. If a house or private structure is destroyed, no matter the historical signifigance, it is up to the insurance company and federal and provincial Public Safety and Emergency Response departments to help the effected owners pay for the repairs.
-
- Develop this
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:46:18
I agree David. Her remarks on the damage in Quidi Vidi are inflammatory and irresponsible. We should be looking to develop the village to make way for more large houses and high-end condominiums. I'm not sure exactly what, but I will check with Fortis Properties to see what they want. At least tear down Mallard Cottage and replace it with a Tim Hortons. That would be a good start.
-
- Putup O'Shutup
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:43:39
Getting a little tired of your constant harping. If you have such a problem with Shannie, why don't you run against her? What wonderful ideas do you have?
-
- Out with Duff
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:38:40
Seems to me that Duff is only interested in representing those who reside in an area considered to have heritage value (in her opinion). If you live in any other area of the city and are flooded out due to some problem with a catch basin or the like...your on your own, don't expect Duff to go to bat for you.
Time for Duff to be out of council and take Galgay with her. -
- brian
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:54:13
Fact - If these individuals wanted to rebuild these shanties today, as they were they would never get a permit to do so nor would any sensible insurance company carry them. Rebuilding them? I'm all for it - with a stamped set of engineer plans for a suitable foundation as well as a set of building plans that meet all residential / out building codes.
-
- SGN
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:52:34
Beware. If any of these structures are beyond repair and have to be demolished, the owners of these properties will be in for a rude awakening when they apply for a demolition permit and have to abide by the City of St. John's policies on the demolition of buildings and structures.
-
- MARY
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:46:04
LOOKS TO ME THAT THE YOUNG MAN IN THE BOAT HELPING HIS GRANDFATHER SECURE THE OUTHOUSE AND WHARF WERE TRYING TO PREVENT ANY MORE DAMAGE TO THEVILLAGE STAGES. I DON'T SUPPOSE THEIR LIFEJACKETS WERE IN THE MISSING STAGE????
-
- Willie
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:42:34
When I take the dory for a row around my harbour I don't wear my lifejacket either. Residents, like me, know every inch of that water and it's like being home on the couch. What could happen?
Willie Hunt
Pouch Cove NL -
- David W
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:30:29
Shannie should be called Councillor For Downtown not Councillor At Large. No wonder our taxes are so high....she says no development and lets help pay for personal property damaged by the storm. While you're at it could you help me pay for my water damage that my insurance company won't cover. Oh, that's right, I don't live in the downtown heritage area.
-
- JM
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:30:13
Council isn't proposig to pay out of pocket to have these areas fixed. No where in that article did it say that. Put your glasses on, read slowly, and stop jumping to conclusions. They're trying to coordinate the federal and provincial agencies to help the families effected by the storm to help rebuild what was lost and prevent the remaining structures teetering on the edge from falling into the harbours. If a road is washed out then the city has to foot the repair bill, and if they're lucky they might get some funding from the provincial pot. If a house or private structure is destroyed, no matter the historical signifigance, it is up to the insurance company and federal and provincial Public Safety and Emergency Response departments to help the effected owners pay for the repairs.
-
- Develop this
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:26:17
I agree David. Her remarks on the damage in Quidi Vidi are inflammatory and irresponsible. We should be looking to develop the village to make way for more large houses and high-end condominiums. I'm not sure exactly what, but I will check with Fortis Properties to see what they want. At least tear down Mallard Cottage and replace it with a Tim Hortons. That would be a good start.
-
- Putup O'Shutup
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:21:58
Getting a little tired of your constant harping. If you have such a problem with Shannie, why don't you run against her? What wonderful ideas do you have?
-
- Out with Duff
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:13:32
Seems to me that Duff is only interested in representing those who reside in an area considered to have heritage value (in her opinion). If you live in any other area of the city and are flooded out due to some problem with a catch basin or the like...your on your own, don't expect Duff to go to bat for you.
Time for Duff to be out of council and take Galgay with her.
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
