Public Notice

Meaford Harbour – Dock Expansion Project – Public Comments Invited

December 21, 2023 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada must determine whether the proposed Meaford Harbour – Dock Expansion Project, located in Meaford, Ontario is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada are inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.

Written comments must be submitted by January 25, 2024 to:

Small Craft Harbours - Ontario & Prairie Region
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Chris McDermid, Environmental Advisor
501 University Crescent
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6
Telephone: 431-335-7530
Email: chris.mcdermid@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Municipality of Meaford is proposing to replace and expand the ‘D' dock string at the Meaford Small Craft Harbour on the southern shores of Georgian Bay, Ontario. The docks are located at the furthest southeast extent of the central wharf, which are lands owned and managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The proposed project requires approvals from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada.

The current 'D' dock has served its purpose for over thirty-five (35) years and is in need of complete replacement. The dock currently houses forty-four (44) small to medium-sized vessels. This project involves the installation of new floating docks: twenty-two (22) finger docks and a principle (main) float extension. Water depth under the proposed docks range from ten feet (10') to twenty-five feet (25'). The new docks will be fabricated, supplied, and installed with materials meeting high quality standards, including pressure-treated decking, marine-grade hardware, and flotation. The ‘D' dock anchoring system will be improved with the installation of fourteen (14) three-ton precast concrete anchors. Anchor blocks will be staggered under the proposed dock structure and will cover a combined total of 32.5 m² footprint on the lakebed.

The existing float docks will be removed from the water using a combination of heavy equipment including forklifts and/or excavators and will be removed from site with the use of trailers. A crane, barge or a vessel designed for heavy lifting will be used to strategically place the anchor blocks in predetermined locations. The new docks are expected to arrive on-site prefabricated, with the exception of small components which may have to be added once delivered. The docks will be launched into the water using a combination of heavy equipment including trailers, forklift, or excavators. The docks will be sequentially floated into position and secured using the connecting components. A chain system will be used to attach the new dock infrastructure to the anchor blocks.