LaHave River property owner defends controversial infill

The owner of a controversial development on the LaHave River near Bridgewater is defending his decision to build on the site, and says those opposed have no scientific evidence to back up their concerns and are using fear to fuel their campaign.

"Both my wife and I are building on the river because we appreciate and respect it," Bernard Wentzell said in an email to CBC News.

"If there was any doubt in my mind that this project will or would have any future detrimental effect on the river it would not be happening."

On Tuesday, members of the LaHave River Salmon Association appeared before the council of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. They expressed fears that the many truckloads of fill dumped on the property would damage six salmon ponds in the area, and increase spring ice jams and flooding, damaging homes along the river.

The association asked council to consider a land-use bylaw that would prevent similar infilling in the future.

'Fear works quite well'

But Wentzell says the area in question is above the high-water mark and is not a designated wetland.

Wentzell said "even before turning a sod" he had a "head environmental sciences professor from a well-known university" evaluate the site, something that was not required by any government department or stipulated under any regulation.

CBC News requested that report. Wentzell said it has been passed on to the provincial Environment Department, but he declined to share it with CBC, saying he did not want to involve the author in the controversy.

He said the infilled area was previously covered with trees, and officials with the Environment Department and Fisheries and Oceans Canada have visited the site "more times than I can remember" in recent months.

On each visit, he says, the project was found to be in full and complete compliance with all applicable environmental and fisheries regulations. 

"Just because a small group intent on complete control are preaching doom and gloom based solely on conjecture with no mentioned scientific backing whatsoever does not necessarily mean that they are correct," Wentzell said.

"Fear works quite well with many people to establish and gain more rigid control."

Council to review options

If Lunenburg municipal council considers future restrictions of waterfront developments, Wentzell said he hopes they seek out reliable and accurate data provided by an academically qualified professional or group "before jumping the gun on this."

Council will meet Nov. 24 to review options aimed at protecting the river from development that could damage its salmon population and create flooding of homes along the water.

Wentzell said it will be interesting to review the situation in several years to see if the "horrors" expressed by the salmon association materialize.