The latest news is government’s estimate it could save $4.4 million over 20 years on services if people leave Nipper’s Harbour.
Mayor Ted Noble has stated publicly he’s not sure how the province arrived at its numbers, considering the costs to maintain the roads and other services.
Of the 30 or something houses in Nipper’s Harbour, many are vacant due to people who have moved or are working away.
Although there are no luxuries, and the local school closed six years ago, fire Chief Maurice Noble said he loves his small quiet picturesque town. Residents still have running water and access to the great outdoors right on their doorsteps.
Everybody looks out for each other in their small community, he added, and nobody wants to go.
La Scie is 35 kilometres away and Baie Verte 52 kilometres. There is nowhere in Nippers’ Harbour to buy anything anymore, and at times during the winter heading out over the road on the peninsula to stock up can be risky.
After Nipper’s Harbour was advised it failed the cost-benefit analysis, the mayor requested the department consider offering a lower amount of financial assistance to residents, which would enable the community to pass the cost-benefit analysis.
The Municipal Affairs department sent new ballots to the community in October and a Nov. 15 deadline was imposed by the community. The province said a limited number of ballots has been received.
“The department will continue to work with the community if significant interest is expressed in the future," read a prepared statement from a Municipal Affairs’ spokesman.
Busing
Meanwhile, travelling the road is not easy on children like Maurice Noble’s daughter Katie, 6, who started kindergarten this year and has to take a half hour bus run to La Scie to attend school.
Parents have to get a young child just starting school up at 6:30 a.m. in order to be ready in time to catch the bus, which made the 13 kilometres trek over a dirt road for only one student last year. This year there are half a dozen.
“(It’s a) bad road, with either draft of wind — drifts in quick,” he said.
With the oldest resident being 82, Maurice Noble said government is likely waiting until there are fewer than the 90 or so residents to broach the resettlement idea again.
