Notice to Residents - Special Council Meeting Dec 9, 2025

A Special Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.  Council will review and discuss options for Draft #2 of the municipal wide planning document.  The meeting is open to the public.

Click  pdf Public Notice(26 KB) to view it in its entirety.

News release: Council Pre-approves $2 million Investment for Sawpit Wharf Park, Back Harbour Road

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg Council has pre-approved $2 million to make waterfront improvements at Sawpit Wharf Park, including a new wharf structure and other waterfront improvements in 2026.  

In June 2024, the Municipality approved a concept plan, created with community input, that will improve the park’s waterfront, accessibility, and overall amenities. Four million dollars was included in the five-year capital plan to implement these improvements over several years.

After a recent structural assessment of the wharf, the decision was made to close the wharf immediately due to safety concerns. This assessment prompted Council to pre-approve funds to enable a design-build for a new wharf in 2026.

“Council understands that the wharf is a significant asset to the park, and one of its main attractions,” stated Mayor Elspeth McLean-Wile. “To not replace the wharf with one that will meet the current needs of park users was unthinkable. We understand this is a park feature people have come to expect. The wonderful thing about this park is the public access to the water and the great green space it provides. Council is excited for the improvements to the waterfront in 2026 and other improvements to the rest of the park that will improve accessibility and the overall user experience in the years ahead.”

To view the concept plan proposed for Sawpit Wharf Park please visit https://engage.modl.ca/sawpitwharfpark

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Media contact:

Trudy Payne, Director, Recreation and Tourism
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(902) 541-1333

Proclamation - International Day for Persons with Disabilities

On December 2, 2025, Mayor McLean-Wile proclaimed that December 3, 2025 is recognized as International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

International Day for Persons with Disabilities promotes an understanding of disability issues and the imporantance of equal access for Nova Scotians with disabilities in all aspects of society.

Click  pdf Proclamation(302 KB) to view it in its entirety.

New items accepted in recycling!

Our recycling program is now managed by Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit organization committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Nova Scotia.

New items that will be accepted in your container blue bags include:

• Multi-layer paper containers: Paper cups (hot and cold), paper bowls, ice cream cartons and spiral cans (frozen juice, cookies, potato chips).
• Plastic tubes: Toothpaste, deodorant, and hand cream tubes.
• Small plastic packaging: Small bottles/pumps, candy/gum containers, garden pots and seedling trays

New items that will be accepted in your paper and fibre blue bags include:

• Sugar and flour bags, potato bags, gift bags, gift wrap, pet food bags, and microwaveable meal containers 

The R6Recycles Waste app and Waste Wizard will be updated in the coming weeks to include any changes to your recyclables and paper collection. The R6Recycles waste app is found at southshorewaste.ca.

Kingsburg recognized by FireSmart

Congratulations, Kingsburg!

The District of Lunenburg is proud to share that the Kingsburg Community Association has been officially recognized as a FireSmart Neighbourhood under FireSmart Canada’s Neighbourhood Recognition Program.

This national program recognizes neighbourhoods that take proactive steps to reduce their vulnerability to wildland fire. Kingsburg residents have come together to:

• Identify wildfire risks on their properties
• Take action on shared community spaces
• Work collaboratively to make their community safer and more resilient

Thank you to the Kingsburg Community Association and all the volunteers and residents who contributed to this achievement. Your leadership helps keep the whole District safer.

Want to learn more about the FireSmart Neighbourhood program? Visit: https://firesmartcanada.ca/

Land Conservation Strategy Survey Deadline Extended

Survey deadline extended to December 5!

Do you care about protecting land in MODL?

We're developing a Land Conservation Strategy and want to hear from you! The Strategy will guide how we identify, care for, and expand protected natural areas so that nature and people thrive, with a goal of conserving 20% of municipal lands by 2030.

Our Land Conservation Strategy will combine local knowledge and science to map high-priority areas and outlines tools we can use such as purchasing land, accepting donations of land, applying conservation easements, partnering with land trusts, entering stewardship agreements, and developing supportive land use policies.

We are engaging residents to ensure the Land Conservation Strategy reflects local priorities, lived experience, and the places people value. We want to understand the social, cultural, historical, and community benefits provided from and current barriers of accessing land and water for people across the municipality, alongside ecological science.

Fill out our survey today! https://engage.modl.ca/conservation

Regional Growth Management Committee

The Regional Growth Management Committee (RGMC) has been formed to advise Councils on matters referred to it by Councils.  The RGMC is intended to make recommendations to the Town of Bridgewater Council and the District of Lunenburg Council on ways to collaborate on growth opportunities within the region.

The RGMC meetings are open to the public.  The next scheduled meeting is December 9, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at the District of Lunenburg Municipal Services Building.

Click  pdf Public Notice(27 KB) to view the Notice in its entirety and the full schedule of meetings.

Regional Growth Management Committee

Regional Growth Management Committee

The Regional Growth Managaement Committee (RGMC) has been formed to advise Councils on matters referred to it by Councils.  The RGMC is intended to make recommendations to the Town of Bridgewater Council and the District of Lunenburg Council on ways to collaborate on growth opportunities within the region.

The RGMC meetings are open to the public.  The next scheduled meeting is December 9, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at the District of Lunenburg Municipal Services Building.

Click  pdf Public Notice(27 KB) for more details on meeting locations, dates, and times.

Notice of Intention to Consider Amendments to Bylaw 047

On November 25, 2025, Municipal Council conducted First Reading of amendments to By-law 047 Potable Water Supply Upgrade Lending Program.  If approved, the By-law will:

• establish a five-year repayment term for new agreements, including a hardship clause that allows approved applicants to receive a repayment term extension, effective January 1, 2026;
• remove the stacking provision with Clean Energy Financing and align with By-law 031 Clean Energy Financing so that only one municipal financing may be active on a property at any given time; and
• make housekeeping amendments, including accessibility updates and formatting.

Notice is given that Council will conduct Second Reading of the proposed amendments to By-law 047 at the Municipal Council meeting of December 9, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m., at the Municipal Administration Building, 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, Nova Scotia.

A copy of the proposed amended By-law may be obtained by contacting the Municipal Clerk at 902 541-1323 or by email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Click pdf Public Notice(31 KB) to view it in its entirety.

Municipal Budget 2026/2027

Council is committed to a robust Budget meeting process as they develop the 2026/2027 Budget, and the public is invited to get involved.

• Follow the project website at https://engage.modl.ca/budget26-27 (sign up for direct email updates in the Stay Informed widget).
• All budget presentations will take place at meetings of the Finance Committee or Council and streamed on YouTube to ensure information is easily accessible.
• An expanded Public Input Session will be held at five of the six budget meetings.

At the first five meetings (see dates and times below), Council will receive budget-specific presentations. After the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to address Council, with a maximum five minutes per person, in a Public Input Session.

At the final meeting on Tuesday, March 31, Council will follow the standard 15-minute Public Input Session, with the time divided by those wishing to speak.

For those who cannot attend in person, the presentations will be recorded and available on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@modlnovascotia.

Each presentation will be available the Thursday or Friday prior to the Tuesday meeting, and the documents will be linked on the https://engage.modl.ca/budget26-27 page.

Budget Schedule

Tuesday, November 25, 6pm in Council Chambers

1. The Director of Finance will present the Draft Capital Budget.
2. After the Draft Capital Budget presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to address Council in a Public Input Session, with a maximum five minutes per person.
3. Council will then deliberate on the staff content and public input.

Tuesday, January 13, 6pm in Council Chambers

1. The Director of Finance will present the updates to the Draft Capital Budget.
2. After the Draft Capital Budget presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to address Council in a Public Input Session, with a maximum five minutes per person.
3. Council will then deliberate on the staff content and public input.

Tuesday, February 10, 6pm in Council Chambers

1. The Director of Finance will present the Draft Operating Budget.
2. After the Draft Operating Budget presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to address Council in a Public Input Session, with a maximum five minutes per person.
3. Council will then deliberate on the staff content and public input.

Thursday, March 3, 6pm in Council Chambers

1. The Director of Finance will present the updates to the Draft Operating Budget.
2. After the Draft Operating Budget presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to address Council in a Public Input Session, with a maximum five minutes per person.
3. Council will then deliberate on the staff content and public input.

Tuesday, March 24, 9am in Council Chambers

1. The Director of Finance will present the revised Draft Operating and Draft Capital Budgets.
2. After the Draft Operating and Draft Capital Budget presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to address Council in a Public Input Session, with a maximum five minutes per person.
3. Council will then deliberate on the staff content and public input.

Tuesday, March 31, 6pm in Council Chambers

1. The meeting will open with our standard 15-minute Public Input Session, with the time divided by those wishing to speak.
2. The Director of Finance will present the final Operating and Draft Capital Budgets.
3. Council will then vote on the Operating and Draft Capital Budgets.

Municipal-wide Land Use Planning - Direction Report #1

On October 27, staff presented a What We Heard Report to Council on the public input on Draft 1 of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law. You can read the report, or watch the presentation at https://engage.modl.ca/modl2040.

Three Council Direction Reports will be coming to Council in November and December. The first meeting is this Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 1pm. You can read the report in the Council agenda package agenda here: https://modl.ca/index.php?option=com_docman&view=download...

This first Council Direction Report provides an overview of several key topics that generated notable public feedback, either contentious or strongly supported, during the engagement period. Each section includes an overview of the issue, a summary of public, stakeholder, and Council feedback (from previous discussions), and policy direction options for Council’s consideration.

This report covers the following topics:

• 󠁯Livestock Operations
• Agricultural Land Protection
• Home-Based Businesses
• Recreational Vehicles
• Campgrounds and RV Parks
• Inland Watercourses
• Inland Wetlands

In the coming weeks, two additional Council workshops will also be held, discussing other topics that focus on zoning and other land-use related issues. The purpose of these reports is to support informed decision-making by identifying where policy adjustments may be warranted before preparing Draft 2 of the MPS and LUB.

Staff have outlined several options for each topic from which Council may provide direction to guide the preparation of Draft 2, anticipated for release in February 2026. This will be followed by a final round of public information sessions prior to adoption and submission to the province for final approval.

Fill out our survey on Land Conservation

We're developing a Land Conservation Strategy and want to hear from you!

The Strategy will guide how we identify, care for, and expand protected natural areas so that nature and people thrive, with a goal of conserving 20% of municipal lands by 2030. Our Land Conservation Strategy will combine local knowledge and science to map high-priority areas and outlines tools we can use such as purchasing land, accepting donations of land, applying conservation easements, partnering with land trusts, entering stewardship agreements, and developing supportive land use policies. We are engaging residents to ensure the Land Conservation Strategy reflects local priorities, lived experience, and the places people value.

We want to understand the social, cultural, historical, and community benefits provided from and current barriers of accessing land and water for people across the municipality, alongside ecological science. Fill out our survey today! https://engage.modl.ca/conservation