Carters Beach public information meeting November 26, 2022. Photo Susan MacLeod

A new plan is in the works that walks the line between protecting the environment and enjoying the shore at Carter’s Beach.

The once hidden gem has become exceedingly popular over the years causing a range of issues for locals.

Parked cars line country roadways making it difficult for emergency vehicles to get through, and the fragile ecosystem is being strained as litter piles up and beach-goers head into the fragile dunes to answer nature’s call due to a lack of washroom facilities.

In recent years, temporary garbage receptacles and port-a-potties have been put in place by the Region of Queens to alleviate stress.

Carter’s Beach is a provincial responsibility and was originally included in the parks and protected areas plan as a nature reserve but is now designated to become a provincial park.

Parks promotion and development officer Sandra Fraser says changing the designation is key moving to forward.

“Having it under the provincial parks program allows for the Department of Natural Resources to support operations there,” said Fraser. “Future plans include providing some basic infrastructure at some key access points so we can manage the usage there and allow for some recreational use while also protecting the ecological values.”

In 2021 the province went through an online consultation process to hear from the public and received over 150 responses.

Officials with Nova Scotia Parks held an open house in late November to present a broad overview of the plan to make Carter’s Beach a provincial park and to answer questions from the community.

Several priorities were identified including conserving sensitive habitats, addressing traffic concerns, providing washroom and waste disposal facilities, installing wayfinding and interpretive signs, and maintaining community partnership.

It was noted that management of the beach should also include establishing sustainable visitation levels.

One of the objectives presented at the meeting was to have vehicle and pedestrian counting equipment installed to track usage at Carter’s Beach.

Fraser says the concept plan also proposed alleviating congestion on Carter’s Beach Road by adding more parking on Port Mouton Rd across from Lake Drive.

“We may keep the small lot that’s there and then add to that and then have a defined path from that parking lot down to the beach.”

Fraser says funding has not yet been secured and plans still need to be finalized before the Carter’s Beach project can go forward.

She says anyone wishing to provide additional feedback can do so by e-mailing the department at: parkinfo@novascotia.ca

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
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Carters Beach. Photo from Nova Scotia Provincial Parks Facebook page

Nova Scotia Provincial Parks has scheduled a public meeting to address concerns and discuss management plans for the pending transition of Carters Beach to a provincial park.

Each year, the white sand and clear blue water attracts thousands of visitors, and each year issues arise due to the insufficient parking and amenities.

The Region of Queens has made efforts in the past to provide garbage pick-up and washrooms, but the beach is a provincial responsibility.

Some have proposed closing Carter’s Beach to the public and designating it as a nature reserve to protect the fragile ecosystem.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says shutting down the beach is almost impossible.

“Yes, there are people who just want Carters Beach to never be developed as a day park. And realistically, unless you put a big electric fence around that place, you’re never keeping people out of there,” said Norman. “It has to have supporting infrastructure, it has to have better parking, and it has to have some type of washrooms.”

Norman says there are several levels of day park in Nova Scotia and Carter’s Beach will be developed to be ecologically sensitive.

“There will be a walk-in to get there. You’re not going to park on the doorstep, and it will be promoted as a quiet area,” said Norman.

Organizers are hoping to attract a wider variety of opinions by holding the meeting to correspond with the monthly community breakfast.

The information meeting will take place November 26 from 9:00am until noon at the West Queens Recreation Centre.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.