NADINE HUNT: Golf course proposal should go straight into the bunker

Guest Opinion by Nadine Hunt Saltwire - Oct. 28, 2022

Originally published here

Nadine Hunt is a life-long resident of Mabou, Cape Breton, and a passionate member of the West Mabou Beach Committee. A retired teacher, she has degrees in education and science from Dalhousie University. She is president of the Cape Mabou Trail Club and a decades-long volunteer with West Mabou Beach, prior and subsequent to it becoming a provincial park.

As a resident of Mabou on Cape Breton Island, and a long-standing volunteer with the West Mabou Beach Committee, I would like to share some observations on the Cabot Group’s most recent proposal to build a golf course in West Mabou Beach Provincial Park.

This is Cabot’s second attempt to take from the park. The company’s proposal in 2018 was turned down, as was an attempt by a different group in 2000. One has to wonder how many times the community and the people of Nova Scotia have to suffer through these totally inappropriate efforts by private developers to gut our park.

They sing the same song each time: we will provide lots of jobs, we won’t interfere with the environment, we will promise you all kinds of goodies to make your life more bearable in poor, rural Cape Breton. (It makes you wonder how we ever managed to survive before Cabot Group came along.)

Cabot’s proposal would see the entire sand dunes, pond areas and marshes become fairways.

West Mabou Beach Provincial Park is a jewel. It has one of the most extensive sand dunes systems in the province, a beautiful two-kilometre-long sandy beach — well used by folks near and far — as well as salt marshes, coves, tidal flats and alkaline ponds. The rich biodiversity within the park’s boundary provides habitat for piping plovers and rare plants, and the estuary at the back is an important nursery for a variety of aquatic animals.

Cabot’s proposal would see the entire sand dunes, pond areas and marshes become fairways. When our group was designing (with the blessing of the Department of Natural Resources, prior to provincial park designation) a trail system through the park, we weren’t allowed anywhere near the dunes (we knew better anyway), nor were we permitted to build a little bridge across a small stream as it was environmentally sensitive. How Cabot has the gall to put forth its proposal, which would destroy this natural, stable ecosystem, is astounding. Once you throw in fertilizers and pesticides, you could harm much of the marine life, including the oyster aquaculture business that thrives here. That sort of ecological damage would be permanent.

Nova Scotia’s coastal protection act — coming soon — is clearly intended to protect all the coastal features found within the park. If the government entertains this development proposal, it will have zero credibility.

West Mabou Beach Provincial Park was designated not just for its outstanding biodiversity, but also for its beautiful beach and family friendly trails which freely provide so many people, year-round, with outdoor recreational opportunities in a gorgeous sunset setting.

This park — like all provincial parks — belongs to all Nova Scotians. Cabot has no right here, but they are free to seek out and buy private land in Nova Scotia like any other business. Why should we give up our valuable gorgeous coastline so the ultra rich can have a temporary playground? Apparently greed and arrogance know no bounds.

Since our committee has been speaking out against this proposal, it has been so encouraging to receive notes of support from people near and far. Many young folks speak about how important this park is to them and their families.

It’s truly a special place.