PEGGYS COVE, N.S. — The provincial and federal governments are kicking in a combined $3.1 million to build an extensive viewing platform and related infrastructure at Peggys Cove.
The platform with wood and steel deck and railings sets up an accessible viewing area overlooking the rocks that will be safer for visitors as well as providing for better traffic flow and visitor drop-off, according to details released during a virtual news conference on Friday. The project will also include new bathroom facilities and improvements to trail connections leading to the lighthouse and parking area.
The platform will be built in an area next to the Sou'Wester restaurant that until now was an access road for vehicles and tourist buses headed to the restaurant's parking area. A portion will extend toward the ocean, over the rocks and looking toward the iconic lighthouse.
Nova Scotia is contributing $1.7 million through the Tourism Revitalization of Icons program. The Government of Canada is providing $1.42 million through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's Innovation Fund.
The funding complements provincial infrastructure spending of $6.2 million already underway in the community, according to a news release sent out on Friday.
Develop Nova Scotia, together with the community of Peggys Cove, worked together over the past two years to create the comprehensive master plan.
Labour and Advanced Education Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced the provincial portion of the funding on behalf of Minister of Business Geoff MacLellan.
"It is crucial that our iconic sites have the infrastructure they need to deliver positive, memorable visitor experiences while ensuring the liveability of the surrounding community,” Diab said.
Bernadette Jordan, minister of Fisheries, Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard, and MP for the area, said that while the site was “one of Canada's and Nova Scotia's iconic destinations,” it was not designed to adequately support the more than 700,000 visitors that come to Peggys Cove every year.
“The rocky terrain, the inadequate public infrastructure and the parking are preventing people from experiencing its beauty,” Jordan said, adding that the non-repayable federal funding will help make real improvements.
“Visitors and residents will be able to safely and easily explore the beauty of the lighthouse and Nova Scotia's rugged landscape,” Jordan said.
Tenders are out for a contractor now and construction of the platform is expected to be complete by the end of June.
Cove residents as well as tourists. The intention is to provide a better visitor experience once travel restrictions are lifted.
“What makes this place special is the people,” Angel said. “And to build a sustainable, magnetic Peggys Cove, we knew we needed to begin with a plan that was co-created with the people of Peggys Cove.”
She said a variety of infrastructure work has been ongoing in the community over the past six months, including traffic and pedestrian flow, coastal protection, and visitor experience.
The main road through the village that used to undulate up and down close to the water level has already been raised by about a metre, with piping pre-installed to accommodate a future sewage treatment plant, an existing breakwater on land above the cove has been improved to better prevent flooding during major storms and work continues to prepare for the new through-ways atop the hill near where the platform will be built.
Julia Manuel, 31, has lived in Peggys Cove all her life, as have her parents and grandparents.
“We were already aware,” Manuel said. “We had already been told what's going on. I'm sad about it, but it is what it is and hopefully it's going to bring improvements for the tourists who come to visit.”
She said she will miss the loop of road that extended up the hill next to the Sou'Wester restaurant overlooking the rocks and the lighthouse.
“They're hoping that it's going to bring more safety for the pedestrians, which I think is important since we are a tourist – I guess town, if you want to call it that,” Manuel said.
“I'm sad to see it change,” she said, adding she doesn't really think it's necessary. “(But) it sounds like it's going to be a good improvement for the traffic flow. We do need improvements for the traffic – all the buses and the pedestrians who do come when we are allowed to travel when life is normal.”
Another resident, who asked that his name not be published because he didn't want to spark conflict with the other 43 people who live in Peggys Cove, opposed the project, saying communication with residents has dried up.
“It's just like … the residents don't matter to them,” he said. “They may lead you to believe that, but that's not the case. Everything that's being done is strictly for the tourists, not the residents, and that's the truth.”
He said the view from his house looking down the cove will now look at the back of a structure destined to be public bathrooms.
“I don't like it, personally.”
Peter Bigelow, vice president of planning and development with Develop Nova Scotia, said visitors will still be able to go to the lighthouse from the viewing platform when it is safe, but there will also be the added capability to close access when it is not.
