With money on the way, Digby, N.S. wharf group looks ahead

Friday’s announcement of federal aid to Fishermen’s Wharf in Digby, N.S. is expected to enable the Digby Harbour Port Association to complete the first phase of an extensive—and expensive—renovation.

Although not confirmed, the association is expecting about $3 million from Transport Canada and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

The funding is part of announcements scheduled for 2 p.m. by ACOA Minister Peter MacKay at the ferry terminal in Digby.

Association chair Reg Hazelton said Thursday morning that the first phase of reconstruction will include filling in under the former CPR spur wharf where waves now slide through to the inner harbour.

As well, the wharf’s oil tanks will be housed in a building, and a sunken boat will be removed.

The biggest and most noticeable change will be construction of floats between the middle ell and the parking lot, and another float by Casey’s Fisheries headed south.

The floats will be accompanied by stairs to the main dock, eliminating the traditional steep climb up ladders that “are old hat and dangerous,” said Hazelton.

If the floating docks work as Hazelton expects, the second phase will see the decrepit middle ell removed and replaced by more floating docks.

“They’re so much better in the end and much more modern,” Hazelton said.

The Digby Harbour Port Association took over the wharf in December from previous owners, the Maritime Harbours Society, a private group that had owned the wharf since November, 1999.

The association paid $1.2 million for the wharf—with the town and the municipality each granting $50,000. The association borrowed the other $1.1 million from the bank and through the Digby-Clare Business Development Centre-Growth Opportunities.