New Brunswick

Piles of dirt removed from Grand Manan shore after blocking harbour views for years

Large piles of dredged-up rock and dirt from a failed construction project on Grand Manan Island have all but disappeared from the shoreline.

Dredged-up rock and dirt sat by shore after wharf project stalled

A front-end loader fills up a dump truck with dirt on the shoreline in front of a wharf full of fishing boats and a large ferry in the background
Crews removed the long-abandoned dirt piles in North Head on Grand Manan earlier this week, revealing the views of the harbour and ferry that had been blocked from residents, tourists and local businesses. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)

Large piles of dredged-up rock and dirt from a failed construction project on Grand Manan Island have all but disappeared from the shoreline.

The debris sat for years, blocking the expansive views of the North Head harbour and fisherman's wharf from restaurant patios and residences.

In at least one case, the unsightly piles contributed to the closure of a café.

"It's incredibly frustrating that it got cleaned up that quickly after waiting that long for something to happen," said Kim Shoefelt, who lives about a five-minute walk from the sit.

When the cleanup was finally done, it took only two or three days, he said, but things were lost during the "drawn-out" wait.

"We lost our favourite little café coffee shop." 

A woman with blonde hair in a bun and a white shirt standing in front of a tourism gift shop smiles at camera.
Although glad the rock piles were gone, Kim Shoefelt says it was frustrating to see how quickly the mess was cleaned up when islanders had waited so long for someone to take action. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)

The Old Well Head Café closed its doors and the owner left the island in the Bay of Fundy earlier this year, despite spending about $200,000 on building upgrades.

The piles of rock obscured views and discouraged tourists and patrons, owner Kiera Dall'Ostro has said.

WATCH | Say goodbye to the big piles of dirt blocking the views on Grand Manan: 

For years, big heaps of dirt blocked vistas from restaurant patios, residences, and tourists

1 day ago
Duration 1:57
Dust, debris, and mountains of dredged-up rock kept residents and tourists from enjoying ocean views on Grand Manan. It led one business to close. But now the piles are finally being moved.

Last Friday, the Village of Grand Manan sent an email to news organizations saying it was taking action to get the rock piles removed so the views could be restored. 

"The Village of Grand Manan has begun work to clean up the site of the North Head wharf project," wrote Chris Rayner, the chief administrative officer for the village.

Rayner said the village had signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal Department of Public Services and Procurement.

"The Village supports infrastructure development and improvements in our community and looks forward to the wharf project completion," he wrote. "In the meantime, it is good to have this area restored for the enjoyment of residents and tourists alike." 

Failed wharf

The stone and dirt were dug up from North Head harbour as part of a new wharf construction project that was supposed to be completed in January 2023, according to the terms of the $15.8-million federal contract awarded in 2021 to Greenfield Construction. 

According to Public Services and Procurement Canada, the job was taken "out of the contractor's hands" in the fall of 2024, and the contractor's bonding company was notified at the same time.  

View of North Head Wharf obstructed by piles of rock and yellow wire construction fence.
Grand Manan village councillors voted last month to write to the federal Fisheries Department seeking clarification about the unfinished wharf project after officials failed to get answers in previous attempts. (Charles Jensen)

"Since that time the federal department has been in discussions with the bonding company "to ensure the work resumes at the earliest opportunity, but parties have not reached a mutually beneficial solution," said a written statement provided by Janie Haché on behalf of the department.

"As a result, we do not yet have a schedule for the completion of the remainder of the work."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shane Fowler

Reporter

Shane Fowler has been a CBC journalist based in Fredericton since 2013.