Lawrencetown Beach

& Rainbow Haven

BeachPublic Engagement Session

Wednesday, September 27th, 20176:00pm – 8:00pmCole Harbour Place51 Forest Hills Pkwy, Dartmouth

Agenda

• Welcome & Introductions

• Overview of the Provincial Parks System

• Overview of the Management Planning Process

• Lawrencetown & Rainbow Haven Beach: Background Information

• Breakout interactive sessions

• Park values and ideas for improvement

• Next steps

• Q&A

Nova Scotia Provincial Parks

206 Provincial Parks across Nova Scotia

Why a Management Statement?• Sets the vision and provides guidance

• Ensures each park is managed consistently & is in line with the Provincial Parks

Act.

• Parks and Protected Areas Plan (2013) directs DNR to:

– complete Management Plans for all “Core” Provincial Parks by 2025

– complete management plans prior to major capital projects

• Core facilities are in need of replacement / redevelopment

Park Management PlanningPublic and stakeholder engagement is an important component of the planning process! These are two types of Management Direction:

Management plan - provides a policy and resource management framework that

addresses substantial and complex issues, substantial capital infrastructure

and/or resource management projects.

Management statement - provides a policy and resource management framework

that addresses a limited number of non-complex issues, limited capital

infrastructure and/or resource management projects.

An Operational Plan will be completed before the Management Direction is finalized.

The planning process for Lawrencetown & Rainbow Haven will result in a Management Statement. Note that the scope is just on these two beaches, not the whole Cole Harbour – Lawrencetown Coastal Heritage Park System.

Management Planning Cycle

Public & stakeholder engagement

Public & stakeholder engagement

Item Description Engagement Dates

Scoping • Rationale

• Planning area

• Schedule

• Engagement Strategy

Aug

2017

Background

Information

• Collect background information on:

o Natural values

o Cultural values

o Recreation values

o Threats

• Public Engagement session

o Collect data on values and vision

• Internet-based opportunity to submit

comments

Sept

2017

Develop

Preliminary

Management

Statement

• Preliminary Management Statement

• Preferred policies, approaches and

development concept

• Public opportunity to review preliminary

management plan

• Internet-based opportunity to submit

comments

Nov.

2017

Final Management

Plan

• Final Management Statement

o Incorporating public feedback

o Submit to Minister for approval

along with Operational Plan

Dec.

2017

Approved

Management Plan

• Ministerial Approval • Public Notice of approved Management

Statement

TBD

Planning Timeline

Lawrencetown & Rainbow: History

1975 – Designated as a regional park through Dept of Municipal Affairs

1976 – Lawrencetown Beach was Protected under the Beaches Act (Conrad’s and Lawrencetown Protected Beach)

1980s - acquired 800+ acres of land (total cost of $1.5 million)

1983 - Cole Harbour-Lawrencetown Coastal Heritage Park System proposed and responsibility transferred to the Dept of

Lands and Forests

1984 – Public Open House & Site Plans created

- 3 year phased process, resulted in main facility, boardwalks, beach access, parking and services

1987 – Designated under the Provincial Parks Act

- officially opening of Lawrencetown Beach and Rainbow Haven

1998 – Redesignated as Cole Harbour – Lawrencetown Coastal

Heritage Provincial Park System

2003 – Hurricane Juan

• Repairs to boardwalk at both Rainbow & Lawrencetown

2016 – Lawrencetown• Flush toilets and showers closed due to damaged water line

• Assessment and design of water supply and system

• NSE approval and TIR permit for new water line

– Wooden boardwalk at parking lot removed & replaced with gravel pathway

• Rainbow

– soil test pits to assess for drainage

– Assessment of existing water supply and system

– Assessment of parking and access road

2017 - Lawrencetown:

– New water supply established

• Water lines have been installed

• Need for more upgrades to water infrastructure

– Parking lot median removed

• Parking lot graveled and graded

– New grassed area

• Traffic speed reduction & surfboard area

– Repairs to surfers parking lot

– Structural assessment of building at Rainbow & Lawrencetown

Lawrencetown & Rainbow:

Recent History

Natural Values

Lawrencetown:

• Protected under the Beaches Act– Dune habitat

• Wildlife– Migratory bird habitat

– 3 critically imperiled species

– 10 species considered sensitive, at risk or may be

at risk

Rainbow Haven:

- Dune habitat

- Wildlife- Migratory bird habitat

- 1 critically imperiled species

Recreation Values• Supervised swimming

• Beach exploration

• Picnicking

• Walking

• Kite flying

• Trail connections

• Surfing & kitesurfing (Lawrencetown)

• Other water sports

Cultural Heritage

Values• Elevated archeological potential

– First Nations Archeological sites

– Post-contact historic sites

Tourism Values

• Significant tourism attraction and

popular day use parks for both

resident and out-of-province visitors

• Offers hiking, supervised swimming,

picnicking and beautiful coastal

access (within easy day trip from

Halifax)

• Trail connections:

– The Great Trail (aka Trans

Canada Trail) passes through

Lawrencetown (Atlantic View

Trail)

– Rainbow is in close proximity

the Great Trail (the Salt Marsh

Trail and Shearwater Flyer)

Education / Interpretation Values

• Regionally significant opportunities for

interpretation of coastal processes,

ecosystems (saltmarshes, dune systems, etc),

endangered species, landscape evolution, and

cultural history

• Scientific research

Other Considerations

• Susceptible to coastal processes (storm events

with high tide surge or wind driven waves that

cause site erosion

• Scope includes Lawrencetown Beach and

Rainbow Haven Beach

Interactive Sessions

• Session 1 ~ 20 mins

– Report highlights back to group ~ 10 mins

• Session 2 ~ 20 mins

– Report highlights back to group ~ 10 mins

• Use maps, flip charts, post-its, or paper to

record your comments

• Focus on the park(s) of interest to you

• Feel free to ask staff any questions

Interactive Session: Part 1

• What do you value most about Lawrencetown and/or Rainbow Haven?

– What are your favourite things about the park(s)?

– How do you use the park(s)?

• What is your vision for Lawrencetown and/or Rainbow Haven?

– What are your ideas for future management or improvement?

Interactive Session: Part 2

Next Steps

• September

• Compile information collected

• October - November

• Draft preliminary management

statement

• Late November

• Public review of management

statement

• December

• Finalize management statement

• Submit final management statement

to Minister of Natural Resources

• 2018• Begin phased

approach to implementation

Thank you for your input!

• For more information, see our website: parks.novascotia.ca

• Sign up for email updates or stay tuned to our webpage

• For further information, contact Parks Division at: (902) 662-3030 or parkplanning@novascotia.ca

• Find us on facebook @NSProvincialParks