A fire official looks at area affected by fire. Photo Communications Nova Scotia

The Nova Scotia Government has banned all activity in wooded areas across the province.

Premier Tim Houston announced the measures which include all recreational and commercial activity during an update on Tuesday.

Houston said some commercial exceptions may be issued, but permission must be granted by the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.

The province has already issued a full burn ban across Nova Scotia until June 25 and Halifax had banned all off-highway vehicles from their trails.

Houston said six illegal fires were reported Monday night and people need to follow the ban, for everyone’s safety.

“Six illegal burns reported just last night is just mind-boggling. So, no burning. For God’s sake, stop burning, stop flicking your cigarette butts out your car window, just stop it. Our resources are stretched incredibly thin right now fighting existing fires,” said Houston.

Manager of Forest Protection with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables Scott Tingley confirmed the fires raging across the province are beyond the department’s capacity.

“These fires are beyond our resource capacity and that’s why we’re prioritizing resources and that’s why they remain out of control. That’s why we continue to ask for help and bring in additional resources,” said Tingley. “This is unfortunately, the nature of emergency response.”

Tingley says the province has already had 195 fires burning 13,000 hectares this year.

There are currently 13 active wildfires, eight of those started Monday and three are out of control.

The forest fires in Tantallon and Shelburne are having an impact on Queens.

As of Tuesday, the fire in neighbouring Shelburne County is still out of control, burning over 10,000 hectares.

Department of Natural Resources and Renewables has dispatched 50 DNRR firefighters and three helicopters to the fire, joined by 40 local volunteer firefighters and two water bombers from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says the municipality will be offering the use of the South Shore Regional Airport to the DNRR helicopters.

Norman says that would save the helicopters from making the almost 400km round trip to Debert where they currently refuel.

A fuel tanker will need to be brought to the site as the fuel used by South Shore Flying Club members isn’t compatible with the water bombing helicopters.

DNRR is already using the airport to support and refuel the smaller fire watch prop planes.

Norman says while Queens has been unaffected by fires so far, she is still concerned.

“Rivers are at end of August levels,” said Norman. “Lakes are low, woods are dry; exceptionally, exceptionally dry, dry terrain.”

Norman says she’s been getting calls from people requesting the Region close all municipal parks as a precaution.

Those are included under the provincial ban and are now off limits.

Norman says she agrees with those measures and asks Queens residents to refrain from taking any chances.

“The least spark. The hot exhaust. There’s so much that can trigger a fire with this dryness. I ask that people who smoke, I don’t believe any cars come with ashtrays in them anymore. So perhaps, just keep a bottle of water with a cap on it in your car to put your cigarette butts in,” said Norman.

Provincial officials are warning the smoke from the fires can seriously affect the air quality in surrounding areas.

Residents are being told to close windows and doors, especially at night when the cooler air and clear skies allow the smoke to travel further.

While not as serious as an out-of-control fire, several businesses and organizations reported losing their internet connection on Monday, affecting point of sale payments, access to online business software and the ability to communicate to clients through e-mail and social media.

The South Shore Regional Centre for Education is also reporting issues with tracking absences through their Powerschool software that could result in a false notification of a student absence.

Installation of a new self-registration system at Queens General Hospital also had to be postponed.

The internet connection appears to have been restored by later in the day.

The province has also established a text line to help people cope with the stress of the fires.

Nova Scotians can text HOPENS to 393939 to receive supportive text messages that are aimed at helping develop healthy personal coping skills and resiliency.

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South Shore Regional Airport in Greenfield. image from Google Maps

After a tumultuous year the situation at the South Shore Regional Airport has returned to normal.

Both the Nova Scotia Drag Racers Association and the South Shore Flying Club have secured 20-year leases with the municipality to continue their activities at the site.

The two groups had co-existed as tenants for years until the Region of Queens offered to sell the airport to the drag racers for $50,000 late last year.

Following a public meeting in December, the Region scuttled the idea of selling the property, opting to keep it under municipal control.

The racers signed a lease effective March 1 to pay the Region $1,500 + HST per race each year.

For an additional $1,500 + HST per year, the racers also have use of the small hangar.

Beginning April 1, the South Shore Flying Club will lease the airport and have use of the large hangar from the municipality for the sum of $4,000 annually.

With six races on the schedule this year, the drag racers will pay $9,000 to the region, considerably more than the flying club.

Mayor Darlene Norman says the two groups are paying different amounts based on a couple of factors.

The first is the drag racers have a greater ability to pay as they charge admission to their events.

The second is that the flying club are taking on the role of managing the airport for the municipality, saving the Region from hiring someone for that position.

“Council made it very clear, that they see the service the South Shore Flying Club provide[s],” said Norman.

After rectifying what she describes as a “messy” situation at the airport, Mayor Norman is pleased to see the two groups move forward.

“Things have been resolved, both associations have 20-year leases and I just wish the best to all of them.”

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Region of Queens Council. Photo Region of Queens

Region of Queens Council has rejected a developer’s request to allow short term rentals in all three units they are building in Beach Meadows.

A public hearing on the matter kicked off Tuesday’s Region of Queens council meeting.

The developer will have to stick to the current zoning to permit long term housing which allows only one short term rental on the site.

The council portion of the meeting began with the approval to update the Emergency Management bylaw.

After the development agreement was rejected, council voted to consolidate municipal insurance under one provider.

Much like a multi-line discount for having a car, home and life insurance policy, the Region will save approximately $60,000 by combining all coverage under one provider, AON Reed Stenhouse Inc.

AON requires a significant increase in deductible for fire department trucks, raising the current amount from $5,000 to $25,000 per incident.

The Region agreed to pick up any deductible costs above the $5,000 limit as it is rare for the fire departments to make a claim for the trucks and the move is considered low risk.

Council then approved a tiered system for providing low-income property tax relief.

Anyone with an annual household income up to $20,000 will receive $400 in relief, from $20,000 up to $25,000 will get $350 and between $25,000 and $30,000 will enjoy $300 in property tax relief.

Commercial operators will pay almost $18 more per tonne in residual waste tipping fees going forward.

Council approved a hike to $29.90 per tonne in closure costs effective April 1.

All is back to normal at the South Shore Regional Airport as the municipality has come to terms on a 20-year lease with the South Shore Flying Club.

The club will pay $4,000 plus HST to the Region each year and will be able to continue its activities in exchange for maintaining the site.

The municipality announced earlier this month it had come to terms on a 20-year lease with the South Shore Drag Racers Association.

The two groups will continue to share the airport as they have for years.

During the discussion portion of the meeting council talked about construction of the proposed outdoor pool at Queens Place.

Council put forward the idea that once the scope of the pool is known, that project and the proposed build of the new library alongside Queens Place should be combined and operated by the same project management team.

The next Region of Queens council meeting will be held Tuesday, April 11 in council chambers beginning at 9:00am.

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Photo courtesy Nova Scotia Drag Racers Association. Credit: David Corkum

A checkered flag will once again fall at the South Shore Regional Airport.

The South Shore Drag Racers Association has secured a 20-year lease with the Region of Queens to operate the Greenfield Dragway on the site.

The contract puts an end to months of uncertainty for the racers.

The Region of Queens owns the airport and thought they had a deal with a developer to buy the land last year.

When that fell through, the drag racers and the South Shore Flying Club both attempted to buy the airport.

The two groups have shared the facility for years and council decided at their Dec 13, 2022, meeting to retain ownership of the airport and renew leases with both organizations.

South Shore Drag Racers Association vice-president Jack Johnson says the group is excited to move forward and focus on racing.

“We’re happy to have it finally come to an end. We’re happy to have a long-term deal and now we can look forward to carrying on our normal business into the 2023 season which actually is the 20th season for the NSCRA,” said Johnson. “So we’re pretty happy about that.”

Johnson says the drag racers provide a huge boost to the local economy every weekend as members travel from across the province and as far away as northern New Brunswick to compete.

“I would say 80% of our business is done locally in town and as far as race weekends go, I’m not sure anybody can even put a number on what we bring into the community. I know the two stores in Greenfield, they both bring in extra staff on race weekends,” said Johnson. “So, I mean, the fuel, the snacks a handful of the travelers that don’t have mobile homes they stay in hotels locally, they eat at the local restaurants, again, they’re buying their gas and fuel sometimes right here in Liverpool, so it has a big effect on the economy in a very positive way.”

In addition to the economic spinoffs Johnson says the association has become knitted into the fabric of the community.

They participate in the annual Memorial Car Show, donate to Christmas Daddies each year, provide opportunities for youth to be involved in the sport and receive the support of local volunteers to put on their events.

The Region has yet to announce a new lease at the airport for the South Shore Flying Club but whenever that happens Johnson says they’re looking forward to sharing the site again with the flyers.

“Hopefully that relationship can continue on both of our parts. I know we intend to do everything we can to continue to work within the same as what we did in the past that was our intentions through the whole thing,” said Johnson.

The South Shore Drag Racers Association has announced a six-event season at the Dragway will begin the weekend of May 26^th.

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photo Ed Halverson

Region of Queens Council packed a lot into their final meeting of the year.

Following a public meeting that took most of the morning, council voted against selling the South Shore Regional Airport. Instead, they will continue to operate the facility and will look to sign the Nova Scotia Drag Racers Association and the South Shore Flying Club to new leases.

Rumclo Developments Ltd and Van Der Pas design made a presentation proposing to build 124 units on 23 acres of waterfrontage at 133 Shore Road if the Region agrees to pick up the $1.5 million tab to extend water service to the development.

Council will weigh the proposal and make the decision as part of the upcoming annual budget process.

Representatives of Hillsview Acres Long Term Care home provided a yearly update. While all regular positions are filled, the facility is searching for part-time staff.

Queens Manor has been providing some assistance to Hillsview Acres.

Both facilities will be merged and replaced when the new Long Term Care Home is built and ready in four years.

A couple of items that have been bouncing around the latest agendas have been resolved.

Council accepted terms of reference for the new pool committee, voted down spending up to $10,000 towards the cost of creating a Bioeconomic Development Zone and will prioritize clearing shrubs that obstructs traffic at Market and Henry Hensey Drive.

Councillors Maddie Charlton and David Brown will sit on a committee to update the Region’s communications strategy.

Council also considered a Development Agreement that would allow a 7-unit short term rental building in Hunts Point to be converted to multi-unit residential housing.

A public hearing on the matter will be held in council chambers January 10.

Council agreed to replace a 2010 work truck that is past its useable life with a new ¾ ton for $75,000 plus tax.

The Region will write off almost $10,000 in uncollectable debt owed to the municipality to get it off the books.

Council received a staff report detailing when council could request a traffic study.

They were informed they could make the request when making an amendment to the Land Use Bylaw or when adopting a Development Agreement but generally the decision to trigger a traffic study is left to the engineer or planner of the traffic authority.

And finally, Region Staff will now be calling for the tow truck if a vehicle is impeding snow clearing operations.

RCMP informed the municipality they don’t have the available personnel to police those parking violations, but it is within the regions authority to do so.

The next council meeting will be held in council chambers starting at 9:00 am on January 10.

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Photo courtesy Nova Scotia Drag Racers Association. Credit: David Corkum

The Region of Queens will hold on to the South Shore Regional Airport after all.

Council voted 5-3 to retain ownership of the airport following a public meeting where supporters of both the South Shore Flying Club and the Nova Scotia Drag Racers Association made an argument for council to accept their purchase offer.

At $50,000 from the racers and $100,000 from the flyers, both offers came in under current market value of $565,000, which requires approval from six of eight councillors to be accepted.

For almost three hours supporters on both sides talked about the importance of the respective organizations and the value each brings to the community.

Director of the Nova Scotia Drag Racers Association Scott Sprague says it would have been great for his organization to have control of the airport so they could leave some of their infrastructure in place.

Sprague says 2022 has been a rollercoaster ride as the group moved from the need to negotiate a lease with a new owner in the spring to potentially becoming the new owner themselves.

While he is pleased both groups will still have use of the facility, he says the process has been frustrating.

“Certainly, to end up right back where we normally are, or were, after all this is hard to believe,” said Sprague.

As the process unfolded he said it was important for council to realize what each group contributed to the airport.

“Everyone was a little bit beaten and bruised from this and probably unnecessarily,” said Sprague. “I mean, the relationship was fine. We quite honestly didn’t really cross paths. In the sense that, we set up, we’re a temporary set up. That’s how it’s got to be if you’re going to have an airport too. So, we came and went.”

During the council meeting several of the councillors to the opportunity to apologize to both sides for stirring up bad feelings in a relationship that had worked so well for so many years.

President of the South Shore Flying Club Peter Gow appreciated the gesture.

“I think that speaks highly of anybody in a pretty stressful situation,’ said Gow. “And to acknowledge that maybe there were some things that could have been done differently.”

Many aviation group members spoke of the strategic importance of the South Shore Regional Airport and its location halfway between Halifax and Yarmouth.

The airport is used for pilot training, as landing for private aircraft, during emergency situations like forest fires, EHS air ambulance and search and rescue efforts, to name a few.

Mayor Darlene Norman acknowledged the essential uses of the airfield but expressed concern that all the aviation groups use the airport for free.

“There needs to be a way for the South Shore Fly Club [sic] to find a way to get revenue from all those people that claim the importance of the airport,” said Norman. “We heard from dozens today.”

Gow is hoping to see an expansion of hangars and services at the airport as it’s challenging for the flying club to raise funds from users.

“To try and come up with some ways to see if we can’t grow the facility at the same time maybe try and contribute financially. It’s tough, it’s really tough to do,” said Gow.

The drag racers and flying club will now look to sign new leases with the Region of Queens.

At the end of the day, both men said they are pleased to return to the status quo and look forward to finding their way back to the working relationship they enjoyed before this episode began.

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Region of Queens Administration Building. Photo Ed Halverson

The hot real estate market apparently extends to airstrips as region of Queens looks to offload the South Shore Regional Airport.

The region is holding a public meeting Tuesday proposing to sell the airport to the Nova Scotia Drag Racing Association for $50,000.

Some are concerned that amount is too far below market value after a deal to sell the airport to a private developer for $565,000 fell through in October.

The municipal government act does allow the Region to sell the property to a non-profit organization for less than fair-market value.

The South Shore flying club has offered the region $100,000 to purchase the property and there are reports at least two other parties are interested and are offering to pay more.

The drag racers and the flying club have shared use of the airport for years and each say if their offer is accepted would continue that arrangement through a long-term lease.

In an open letter published to social media the drag racers say since they began in 2004, they’ve paid over $161,000 in lease fees to the region and invested $190,000 in improvements to the property.

The NSDRA says they’ve made other contributions to North Queens including $60,000 to local Volunteer Fire departments for their services, donating $13,000 to Christmas Daddies, and supporting dozens of local businesses buying supplies for their events.

The association says by the Region’s own estimates the NSDRA’s activities have contributed more than $4 million in tourism to the area.

The flying club says they too, have made several upgrades at no cost to the municipality.

Club president Peter Gow made a presentation to council at the November 8 meeting where he says the club was shocked to learn council had decided to sell the airport to the NSDRA without giving them an opportunity to bid.

Gow told council he’s concerned that despite assurances if the club is sold to the drag racers it will no longer operate as an airport due to the high cost of insuring the airplane fueling system and the NSDRA’s intention to increase the number of racers, cutting down on the time available for the flying club to use the airstrip.

Council will hear from the public before voting on whether to sell to the NSDRA during the regular council meeting.

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South Shore Regional Airport in Greenfield. Image from Google Maps

After an initial sale fell through another buyer has been found for the South Shore Regional Airport.

The Nova Scotia Drag Racers Association is one of two groups currently using the airport.

The NSDRA hosts drag racing events on site five weekends each summer.

As a non-profit organization the group is looking to buy the airport for less than fair market value.

The proposed sale price was not disclosed in the Region of Queens Council agenda package.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says the group has contributed a great deal to the area over its 20-year history and would be a good fit.

“Sometimes it isn’t about who’s got the biggest pockets. Sometimes it’s about who can bring the best value to people.,” said Norman. “When you think this is located in the northern part of our municipality, 1,000 people on a weekend is a nice boost to that economy and several local businesses are supported by the activity of the Nova Scotia Drag Racers Association.”

The drag racers have agreed that should they buy the property they will work to provide the other current user, the South Shore Flying Club with a lease so they can continue their activities on the site.

Council had voted to sell the airport property to Liemke Ventures for $565,000 at their April 12 meeting but the sale was never finalized.

A public hearing on the sale to the Nova Scotia Drag Racers Association will be held at 9:00 AM on December 13 in council chambers.

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