Salt supplier looking to fill in part of Bay Roberts harbour

By Craig Westcott/January 6, 2023

Bay Roberts council is expected to deal with a large Crown Lands application at its next public meeting set for January 10.

The application was deferred at council’s last meeting in December.

Chief Administrative Officer Nigel Black explained the matter had come to council as a referral from the provincial division of Crown Lands, which itself had received the application from someone looking to infill a large area.

“It is a large area, a substantial area that they’re looking to infill, so I would recommend that rather than make a decision on it right now, you refer it to the planning and development committee to have them review it and give a recommendation back to you,” Black advised council. “The secondary part of that is that we advise Crown Lands that we would not be able to give our response until that first meeting in January.”

The application is from Avalon Coal Salt and Oil Ltd. on George Mercer Drive, which wants to infill a portion of Bay Roberts Harbour adjacent to its premises. It is asking the Crown for a grant of 1.8 hectares of the harbour to fill in so that it can extend its wharf for a laydown and storage area.

Black noted Crown Lands usually has a 30-day period for responses from municipalities affected by such applications.

“That all makes sense what you’re saying there,” said Mayor Walter Yetman in support of the delay.