A new concrete seawall near Parlee Beach is outside the jurisdiction of both the province and the local municipality, provoking neighbours to call for better regulations when it comes to New Brunswick coastlines.
The concrete wall, about 4 metres tall, wraps around much of a small beachfront property in Cap-Brûlé. A newly built house sits on the property, close to the edge of a former sloping rock border, which is a typical method of erosion control in the area.
The wall was built along the outer edge of the rock border, displacing the rocks, and effectively extending the usable property.
Neighbour Tom Delworth said he understands the need for property owners to protect their homes with rock armour. But he worries about the potential impact a concrete wall may have and about the lack of government oversight of such a project.
Tom Delworth, a seasonal resident of Cap-Brûlé, is concerned the seawall may contribute to erosion on the beach. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)
“How do we put more teeth, have better regulations to preserve our coastal environment here in New Brunswick?” Delworth asked.
Coastal geomorphologist Jeff Ollerhead said when it comes to shoreline protections, “a vertical wall is about the worst thing you can do.”
The Mount Allison University professor hasn’t examined the site in person but said that in general, vertical and non-permeable structures are the least sustainable and most damaging options for those looking to keep erosion at bay.
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