Oyster Pond Fire Hall - November 21st, 2018

November 21st, 2018

Oyster Pond Fire Hall
       7:00pm

What to Expect Tonight:
1. Board Recap
2. Streetscaping & Beautification Grant
3. Infrastructure Committee
   •   Letter from Councillor Hendsbee
4. New School Site Selection
   •   Update on Business Case
   •   Questions?
5. MPA
   •   Update from Ryan Murphy
6. Guest
   • Councillor David Hendsbee
7. Upcoming Events
   • Annual Holiday Wine & Cheese

1. Board Recap:

Town Halls:
   • Monthly, 3rd Wednesday of the month
   • September
     • Well-attended (~100 people)
     • Thorough introduction of Business
         Case
     • Comprehensive Q&A session on site-
         selection
     • Available to watch on Eastern Shore
         Cooperator Facebook page

1. Board Recap:

Town Halls:
   • October
     • Small Business Showcase
     • Presentations from local businesses on
         what they have to offer
     • Networking opportunities

1. Board Recap (continued):

Board Member Resignation
•     Ms. Kristina Oje
•     “My other commitments … have become too great for me to be able
      to fulfill the requirements of my position on the Board…”
•     “It has been my pleasure being a part of the MHACCCA Board. I am
      so proud of all we have accomplished in the past few years, and I
      have no doubt the board will continue these successes in the future.”

     The Board of Directors is grateful for Kristina’s volunteer
    efforts, in particular her time as Secretary and her vision &
      execution of the 2018 Business Excellence Awards Gala.

1. Board Recap (continued):

Board of Director Meetings:
•   We continue to meet regularly – typically by-weekly.
•   Recently, our Board Meetings have focussed almost entirely on the
    School Site Selection process
    • Generating the Business Case
    • Post-unveiling feedback
    • Media requests
        • Sheldon MacLeod Show
        • Eastern Shore Cooperator
    • How to best respond to negative/unhelpful comments
    • How to ensure the facts are properly conveyed
    • What next?

    •    … details to follow in the Site Selection portion of the agenda.

2. Streetscaping & Beautification Grant
So…what did we apply for & what are we getting?
•    Banners
     •   100 pole banners from Hwy 107 to Smith Settlement
• Signage
     •   Variety of signs (wayfinding & WIFI)
     •   Removal of sign pollution
• Trees/Bushes
     •   30 fruit-bearing tress & 20 fruit-bearing bushes
             • Planter Boxes
                  •   Nine wooden planter boxes located though the
                      core of MH
             • Bench Refurbishments
                  •   Repairs to existing benches at Train Station &
                      Community Garden

3. Infrastructure Committee:
       Update on Waste Water Treatment Facility @ Twin Oaks

Recap:
   •     January/18: Report from exp consulting
   •     March/18: Letter to Jamie Burns, Regional Director of NSE
   •     April/18: Response from Mr. Burns indicating:
             1. The Approval Holder (NSHA) is currently in
                  compliance.
             2. Quarterly averages in 2017 met all limits.
             3. NSE is not aware of any other sewage or sediment
                  releases in the Inlet.
   •     June/18: Received copies of:
         • System Assessment Report (dated January 3rd, 2018
         • NSE Inspection Report (dated March 7th, 2018)
         • NSE Inspection Action Plan (not dated)

3. Infrastructure Committee:
     Update on Waste Water Treatment Facility @ Twin Oaks

• Since:
   • Infrastructure Committee received funds from the MH
       Common Area Rate to perform additional testing.
   • Hired Atlantic Water Investigators to perform the
       following:
      •    July/18: Dye Testing at ESDH
      •    July/August/18: Water quality testing at 2 locations
           leading into the Inlet

3. Infrastructure Committee:
      Update on Waste Water Treatment Facility @ Twin Oaks

Dye Testing @ Eastern Shore District High:
   • Results:
      • Confirmed that at least one of the rooftop storm
        drains is flowing directly into the Sewer Lift Pump
        Station.

3. Infrastructure Committee:
     Update on Waste Water Treatment Facility @ Twin Oaks

Water Quality Testing @ two locations upstream from Inlet:
   • Results:
      • Escherichia Coli (E-Coli) & Fecal Coliforms present in
        most samples

3. Infrastructure Committee:
  Update on Waste Water Treatment Facility @ Twin Oaks

What’s next:

• NSH & HRCE communication to rectify
  stormwater flowing into sewer lift station
• Councillor Hendsbee sent a letter to
  homeowners along Petpeswick Inlet indicating
  the following:

3. Infrastructure Committee:
            Update on Waste Water Treatment Facility @ Twin Oaks

(….preamble, 5 copies of the letter here this evening for your perursal)

However, engineering calculations indicate that the WWTF operating
problems do not fully account for all the levels of bacterial pollution that have
been measured in the inlet. It is likely that there may be deficiencies in
private septic systems adjacent to Little River and Petpeswick Inlet that are
also contributing to the problem.

As an abutting property owner along Little River and/or Petpeswick Inlet, we
are asking you to check and ensure that your septic system complies with
provincial regulations and is functioning properly. A simple dye test would
easily indicate any leakage issues. This website may be helpful:
https://novascotia.ca/nse/wastewater/docs/Homeowners.Guide.to.Septic.Syst
ems.pdf

3. Infrastructure Committee:
      Update on Waste Water Treatment Facility @ Twin Oaks

Next spring it is anticipated that the Nova Scotia Department of
Environment will undertake steps to identify possible properties that
may require septic system repairs or upgrades.

Having clean, safe waters for recreational use is in everyone’s best
interests. I would appreciate your cooperation and assistance in
achieving this goal.

 With Councillor Hendsbee and MLA Murphy’s assistance, we will
   continue to update our membership & the general public on
                           progress.

4. New School Site Selection:
            Business Case
Our approach:
Produce a fact-based document, from a student-first
perspective, touching on the following topics:
      • Physical site & Potential new sites
         • Proximity to:
              • Hospital & Ambulance Depot
              • RCMP & Fire Department
              • HRM Library
              • Recreation & Culture, including:
                   • Trails
                   • Beaches
                   • Fitness Center
                   • Recreation Center
                   • Yacht Club
                   • Train Station & Old School
              • Commercial District
                   • Availability of goods/services
                   • Employment
                   • Volunteerism

4. New School Site Selection:
             Business Case
Our approach:
Supported with data relating to the following topics:
       • HRM Zoning
       • Future Development Plans
           • Affordable Housing
       • Enrollment statistics & Census data
       • Community Facility use
       • Transportation issues & Bussing concerns
       • Water quality & quantity
       • Business & Individual letters of support (over 100, with more to
         be delivered)

4. New School Site Selection:
             Business Case
Our goal:
   • The Business Case is well-received & does not slow the
      process
       • No desire to pit community vs. community
       • No desire to delay breaking ground

   • Serves as a valuable document & significant reference
     within the site-selection process
      • We do not know what the site-selection will look
        like, but we remain optimistic for a transparent
        process, requiring public participation.

4. New School Site Selection:
            Business Case
Delivered to:
    • Minister & Deputy Ministers:
       • Education
       • Transportation
       • Health
       • Labour
       • Community Services
       • Communities, Culture & Heritage
    • Premier
    • Leaders NDP & PC Parties
    • All members HRM Council
    • Member of Parliament
    • Senator Tom McInnis
    • HRM Planning & Development

4. New School Site Selection:
                Business Case
Response & Feedback:
   • Generally positive
   • Many agree that Musquodoboit Harbour is the ideal
     location for students within the catchment area
   • Many disagree, and cite the following reasons:
      • We are biased
      • Higher population on western side of catchment area
      • HRCE (former HRSB) Long Range Outlook is flawed
          • Baragar Demographics
          • Seven Lakes & Nature Ridge not considered
      • Province is aiming to situate new schools on 80-100
         acre parcels to allow for expansion

4. New School Site Selection:
                Business Case
Digging deeper:
We are biased.
   • Our Mission: “To promote and enhance the economic,
      social and civic well-being of Musquodoboit Harbour &
      surrounding communities”
As a result, to a certain degree we are. However, were diligent
in focusing on the Business Case from a student’s point of view.

Higher population on western side of catchment.
   • Correct. ESDH has historically had more students from
      the west than the east.
   • Does not change the fact that Musquodoboit Harbour is
      nearly the perfect geographic center of the catchment
      area and offers services & amenities that significantly
      benefit the student body.

4. New School Site Selection:
               Business Case
HRCE (former HRSB) Long Range Outlook – June 2018
Population projections are flawed, inaccurate and do not
include Nature Ridge & Seven Lakes Developments.
• Nature Ridge (Sugarwood Court, Porters Lake) is included as
   a “New Residential Development” on page 233 of the 2018
   Long Range Outlook.
• While Seven Lakes is not officially noted as a “New
   Residential Development”, it is noted there are currently 74
   lots in Seven Lakes – 27 sold & 7 with deposits received.
   (Seven Lakes website)
• HRCE uses Baragar Systems, a BC-based data solutions
   company, for their long-range (10-year) enrollment
   projections.
• HRCE stands behind the Long Range Outlook, and has a
   testimonial on the Baragar Systems website. (baragar.com)

4. New School Site Selection:
            Business Case
Province aiming to situate new schools on 80-100 acre parcels
to allow for expansion.
• There is currently no school site selection process, nor has
   the government published anything indicating the desire to
   locate new schools on a specific size property.
• Currently:
    • ESDH:       8.9 acres
    • MRHS:       25.95 acres
    • DMHS:       12.78 acres

4. New School Site Selection:
             Business Case
What’s next:
  • Ongoing advocation from a student point of view
   • Promoting the Business Case arguments to a broader
     audience
   • Publish supplementary information supporting our
     student-first approach
   • Continue to communicate with MLA Murphy as we await
     the site selection process to be announced

4. New School Site Selection:

                   Questions?
We are happy to answer as many questions as we possibly can
                  regarding site selection.

5. Marine Protected Area (MPA)

Update from MHACCCA representative on
     the MPA Advisory Committee:
         Mr. Ryan Murphy

5. Marine Protected Area (MPA)
MPA Area of Interest (AOI) Advisory Committee

• The MHACCCA has one seat of over 30 seats total on the MPA Area-Of-Interest
  (AOI) Advisory Committee.

• Representatives on the AOI Advisory Committee include a number of Community
  groups, Fishing Groups, other Marine Harvesting groups, First Nations/Indigenous
  Peoples, NGO’s, Municipal, Provincial & Federal governments, and universities.

• The Committee was set up to “serve as the primary consultative body for the MPA
  establishment process, although other existing DFO consultative processes will
  also be used to ensure broad input.”

• The consultation process is still in its early stages. The advisory committee has
  only met once to date, on September 13th. The process is expected to extend to
  2020.

5. Marine Protected Area (MPA)

5. Marine Protected Area (MPA)

Current Stage

• DFO is currently working on running the area’s activities through its
  risk assessment process.

• We’ve been told that we should have some information on the
  prominent fishing activities (i.e. lobster fishing) before the end of
  the year.

• The next advisory committee meeting will be scheduled once the
  risk assessment is completed.

5. Marine Protected Area (MPA)

Where can I learn more?

• DFO has created a page on their website dedicated to the Eastern Shore
  Islands Area of Interest. Visit our website mhacc.ca/mpa for a link to that
  DFO webpage and also the newsletter that was released by DFO about
  the Area of Interest.

5. Marine Protected Area (MPA):
                FAQs

Will the MPA shut down fisheries on the Eastern Shore?

DFO’s Answer: No.

• DFO is working closely with the local fishing industry to ensure there
  will be no impacts to jobs or the ability to make a living along the
  Eastern Shore.
• All activities are subject to the ecological risk assessment, but based
  on experience with similar MPAs, DFO is confident that lobster and
  other traditional fixed-gear fishing (herring gillnet, groundfish longline),
  dive fisheries, recreational fisheries, and Food, Social and Ceremonial
  (FSC) fisheries will be allowed to continue within a future Eastern
  Shore Islands MPA.

5. Marine Protected Area (MPA):
                  FAQs
Do all MPAs need to have a “no take zone”?

DFO’s Answer: No, MPAs do not require “no take zones” in order to be
effective.

• Although these types of zones are commonly used in protected
  areas around the world, there are also examples of effective MPAs
  that do not include such measures.
• DFO is working closely with the fishing industry and others on the
  design of a potential MPA to ensure effective protection while also
  avoiding economic impacts to communities.

6. Guest:

Councillor David Hendsbee
 The Man with the Van, always know where I am

Next Meeting:
MHACCCA Meeting of Special Resolution
                 &
       Holiday Wine & Cheese
  Wednesday, December 12th, 2018
   Worthington Place Resort & Spa
   78 Clamshell Road, MH | 7:00pm

www.mhacc.ca
www.musquodoboitharbour.ca
     info@mhacc.ca