Iqaluit residents’ group wants neighbourhood briefing on port project

Work is scheduled to begin this fall to collect geotechnical and environmental baseline data to prepare for the proposed port project planned for South Polaris, near Iqaluit’s causeway. The study areas are outlined in red. (IMAGE COURTESY OF ADVISIAN)

A group of Iqaluit residents who live near the city’s breakwater says its members want to be consulted directly as preliminary work on Iqaluit deep water port project ramps up.

The newly-formed Sinaakuut Support Group, whose members are unidentified, recently submitted comments on the upcoming geotechnical and environment studies lead by consulting firm Advisian starting in September.

The much-anticipated port is expected to include a vessel docking face with an additional sealift barge landing, plus a laydown area for the sealift.

Sinaakuut said its members are supportive of the project but they are concerned about traffic and safety during the preliminary study and construction periods, expected to unfold over four years.

“We expect to be users of the new facilities but also know that there will be a real impact on our homes and neighbourhood in the breakwater area during and after the construction period,” Sinaakuut wrote to the Nunavut Impact Review Board in June as part of its review of Advisian’s baseline studies.

The group lists a number of concerns, including increased traffic and difficulty accessing parking; children’s safety during construction; short and long-term privacy; waterfront access and potential issues with tides and flooding.

“We would like the opportunity to have a neighbourhood briefing, review and discuss plans and approaches to the project, and have a chance to respond to issues we might be able to predict or assist with,” Sinaakuut said in its letter.

“We would like to continue to be consulted as the project develops or issues arise.”

Sinaakuut declined to be interviewed by Nunatsiaq News, saying the group’s members prefer to remain anonymous for the time being.

The group submitted one of six comments to Advisian, which has until July 22 to respond.

All other submissions came from federal agencies, none of which expressed any major concerns as the baseline study moves forward.

The department of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard’s fisheries protection program recommended that the study area be monitored for marine mammals before any work begins.

And Environment Canada asked the firm to ensure the contents and location of fuel spill kits be made clear for work crews.

This past January, Nunavut finally got confirmation of $63.7 million in federal funding towards the long-awaited port project in the territorial capital.

The scope of this portion of the project includes drilling, foot surveys and the collection of water and sediment samples, both before and after freeze up.

Crews will also survey with an underwater camera to identify the presence of fish species and habitat, along with on-ground ecosystem mapping to survey soil, plant and bird life along the shoreline.

Advisian has said that up to 100 litres of diesel fuel will be used to operate a drilling rig, along with some hazardous materials and chemicals for sampling preservation.

The majority of the preliminary work is scheduled to occur this fall with some carry over to the spring of 2017.