News & Events

News release: Council Approves $600,000 Allocation for Water Supply Upgrade Lending Program

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Published: Thursday, 16 January 2025 08:28

DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – Council has approved a $600,000 allocation from the general operating reserve to bolster the Clean Energy Financing (CEF) Water Supply Upgrade Lending Program. This funding aims to address the increasing demand for water supply improvements for households experiencing dry wells.

Many rural households in Lunenburg County rely on private wells, which are increasingly vulnerable to changing weather patterns, including prolonged dry spells and intense storms. In 2016, Council initiated a water coupon program to provide temporary relief by distributing potable drinking water to households with dry wells.

Recognizing the limitations of the water coupon program, Council launched the Water Supply Upgrade Lending Program in 2023. This initiative offers financial assistance to owner-occupied households for water system upgrades, including drilling wells, through a loan of up to $20,000 or 15% of the property's assessed value. Administered by the Clean Foundation, the program provides a sustainable solution, with loans registered as property liens and repaid with interest, ensuring minimal net cost to the Municipality.

The program's initial annual budget of $50,000 allowed for upgrades to approximately three properties per year. However, following an exceptionally dry season, the waitlist has expanded to 31 households, with a projected wait time of up to ten years at current funding levels.

The approved $600,000 allocation will eliminate the backlog, enabling immediate assistance for waitlisted applicants and ensuring long-term water security for residents.

"Council’s decision reflects our dedication to addressing the water security challenges faced by our residents," said Mayor Elspeth McLean-Wile. "By investing in long-term solutions, we aim to support our community’s resilience against the effects of climate change and ensure that our residents have access to reliable water sources."

For more information about the Water Supply Upgrade Lending Program, visit cleanfoundation.ca/energy/water-supply-upgrade.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: District of Lunenburg Takes Next Step in Centre School Site Renewal

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Published: Wednesday, 11 December 2024 10:56

The District of Lunenburg continues its commitment to responsible site management with progress on the demolition, removal, and remediation at the former Centre Consolidated School property. The District is obligated to conduct a Phase III ESA in order to further delineate the areas of site contamination and necessary steps to take in order to achieve regulatory closure.

At the December 10 meeting, Council authorizd staff to award the Phase III Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) for the former Centre Consolidated School and Sewage Treatment Plant to Strum Consulting Ltd. in the amount of $37,494, including a 20% contingency and net HST. The assessment is expected to take approximately six weeks and will include a class D estimate for the expected cost in time for the 2025/2026 Capital Budgeting process.

“Although the District has pursued the sale of the Centre School property for many years, these efforts have not been successful,” said Mayor Elspeth McLean-Wile. “By moving forward with the Phase III ESA, we are taking necessary steps to remediate the site and position it for future opportunities that benefit our community.”

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: District of Lunenburg Moves to Address Housing Data Gaps to Support Affordable Housing

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Published: Wednesday, 27 November 2024 14:35

The District of Lunenburg is taking a significant step toward improving affordable housing in the region. At the November 26, 2024, Council meeting, Council directed staff to prepare a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a study that will collect updated housing market data and address key data gaps.
Recent reports from the South Shore Housing Action Coalition highlight significant challenges in the region, including rising housing costs, higher rental rates, and increasing homelessness. Without reliable local data, these issues are hard to address, and funding for affordable housing projects is harder to secure.

“The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and other agencies rely on accurate local housing data to support funding for affordable housing projects,” said Mayor Elspeth McLean-Wile. “However, due to a lack of local data, current and future housing developments are at risk of losing out on accessing funding.”

Currently, CMHC uses outdated or incomplete data from other parts of the province, which doesn’t accurately reflect the housing situation in the Lunenburg County area. This has led to a disconnect between reported housing conditions and what residents are experiencing on the ground.

“The Town of Bridgewater has already agreed to contribute to the study, and we will be reaching out to neighboring municipalities in Lunenburg County to see if they would like to join the District in funding this important study,” said Mayor Elspeth McLean-Wile.

The estimated cost of the study is $50,000. The results will help ensure affordable housing projects are viable and better positioned to receive necessary funding from government agencies like CMHC.

“This data collection is an urgently needed step to fill gaps and support the development of affordable housing in the region,” said Mayor Elspeth McLean-Wile.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: District of Lunenburg Appoints Three New Development Officers

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Published: Wednesday, 27 November 2024 14:31

The District of Lunenburg Council has appointed three new Development Officers: Anna Giblin, Jacob Macpherson, and Carin Mahon. These appointments come as the Municipality prepares for increased development permit applications due to the introduction of mandatory minimum planning requirements required by the Province of Nova Scotia.

Development Officers are responsible for administering the Municipality’s Land Use By-laws and Subdivision By-law, critical components of effective municipal planning. Previously, the District of Lunenburg had two Development Officers.

To address the anticipated increase in demand while maintaining service standards, Council approved the recommendation to appoint the Municipality’s three Planners as Development Officers. This decision leverages existing staff and resources to ensure a seamless transition without increasing costs or hiring additional personnel.

“This move is a proactive step to ensure the District of Lunenburg can continue to deliver efficient and high-quality service,” said Mayor Elspeth McLean-Wile. “By appointing our trained planning staff as Development Officers, we’re improving our service capacity without adding new costs or staff. It’s a win-win for our community and taxpayers.”

The District’s Manager of Development has provided specialized training to the appointed Planners, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to take on their expanded responsibilities. This preparation ensures the Municipality is well-positioned to adapt to the evolving demands of land use and development planning.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: District of Lunenburg Announces Official Election Results

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Published: Thursday, 24 October 2024 10:20

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is pleased to announce the official results of the 2024 municipal election.

Mayor Elspeth MCLEAN-WILE (new)
District 1 Morgen REINHARDT (new)
District 2 Martin BELL (acclaimed, returning)
District 3 Wendy OICKLE (returning)
District 4 Pam HUBLEY (returning)
District 5 Cathy MOORE (returning)
District 6 Alison SMITH (new)
District 7 Edgar BURNS (new)
District 8 Kacy DELONG (returning)
District 9 Ben BROOKS (new)
District 10 Chasidy VEINOTTE (acclaimed, returning)
CSAP Diane RACETTE (acclaimed, returning)

The total number of voters in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg who cast their vote is 10,072, which is 45.4% of eligible voters. This exceeds the number of voters who participated in the 2020 MODL municipal election. In 2020 9,084, or 43.9% of eligible voters voted. The 2020 election had three acclaimed Councillors, while the 2024 election had two acclaimed Councillors.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: Municipality Opens New MARC Ballfields Playground

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Published: Tuesday, 01 October 2024 13:00

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) is pleased to announce we have opened a new playground at the MARC Ballfields.

The Municipal Activity and Recreation Complex in Dayspring, better known as the MARC, is a year-round outdoor recreation facility. With 100 acres of open space, including fields, woods, ponds, brooks and trails, the MARC is perfect for flying a kite, having a picnic, stargazing, watching wildlife near the ponds or exploring the trails on foot, or on mountain bike. The complex also boasts softball fields, an 18-Hole Disc Golf Course (9 baskets), a BMX/Mountain bike skills park and a new children's playground.

“Creating spaces where children and families can come together, play, and enjoy the outdoors is a key priority for Council,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “The new playground at the MARC Ballfields is a wonderful addition to our community, and we look forward to seeing it become a gathering place for residents and visitors alike.”

The MARC Ballfields are located at 97 Leary Fraser Road, Dayspring.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: Municipality Delivers High Speed Internet to 100% of Municipality Homes

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Published: Tuesday, 10 September 2024 15:31

September 10, 2024 / For Immediate Release

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) proudly announces the successful completion of our ambitious high-speed internet expansion project, reaching a remarkable milestone: 100% of residents now have an available high-speed Internet service.

Since the project began in 2016, MODL has invested $2,723,265, a strategic investment that was effectively leveraged to secure an estimated $25 million in additional funding from provincial, federal, and private sources.

Total coverage of Eastlink or Bell Fibre in the District of Lunenburg is 98.2%. Any District of Lunenburg address not captured with Fibre can obtain a Starlink Satellite rebate. With Starlink 100% of MODL has access to High-Speed Internet above 50mbps.

“Access to high-speed Internet is of critical importance to the Municipality and was a key priority for our Council for many years,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “This investment has made an important and significant contribution towards economic development and enhancing the quality of life in our communities.”

The successful completion of this project marks a pivotal moment for the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, showcasing our dedication to fostering technological growth and ensuring that all residents benefit from reliable, high-speed internet access.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: News release: Municipality Giving Away 1,000 Trees to Residents

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Published: Thursday, 29 August 2024 09:57

The Municipality is giving away 1,000 trees to MODL residents in September to create a greener community. This initiative is part of the Local Climate Change Action Plan 2030 (LCCAP 2030), which aims to plant 10,000 trees by the end of the decade. All MODL residents are invited to participate, with a limit of four trees per household, on a first-come, first-served basis.

“By prioritizing the planting of 1,000 trees in 2024, the Municipality is making strides toward its long-term environmental goals,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “This event not only helps expand our green canopy but also empowers residents to take an active role in conservation efforts. Planting trees is a significant way to combat climate change and enhance the overall well-being of our community. Trees improve air quality, boost biodiversity, and enhance the beauty of our local environment.”

Location: Municipal Activity and Recreation Complex (MARC), 33 Leary Fraser Road, Dayspring.
Date: September 14, 10am - 1pm
Rain Date: September 15, 10am - 1pm

Please visit engage.modl.ca/treegiveaway for more information.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: MODL to Construct New Playground at MARC Ballfield

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Published: Tuesday, 23 July 2024 09:12

July 23, 2024 / For Immediate Release

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – MODL is pleased to announce that the Sport Park (ballfield) at the Municipal Activity Recreation Complex (MARC) will be getting a new playground before the end of the summer.

As part of our continuing efforts to improve our parks, in the summer/fall 2023, MODL conducted safety inspections at six locations. The inspection of the MARC ballfield playground structure revealed several safety issues and removal was required. The playground structure was removed in the fall of 2023.

At the June 18, 2024, Special Council meeting, Council approved a replacement playground with accessible features, at a cost of $97,734 plus HST.

"We heard from community members about how important this infrastructure is to their enjoyment of the ballfields, and we’re pleased to be able to come up with a solution for this year," said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. "This decision reflects our commitment to providing safe and enjoyable recreational spaces for our community while responsibly managing our resources. We believe that investing in our parks and recreational facilities is essential for the well-being and quality of life of our residents.”

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: Council Passes New Coastal Protection Regulations

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Published: Tuesday, 18 June 2024 15:57

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – In April of 2023, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) began developing new land use regulations that would impact how development occurs along our coast.

Since this time, MODL Council and staff have engaged with the community and experts to shape these regulations. The regulations are intended to protect development on the coast from the effects of climate change and to protect the coast from human development by addressing concerns such as coastal erosion, flooding, and the preservation of sensitive ecosystems.

At a Special Council meeting on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, Council passed the Second Reading to amend MODL’s Municipal Planning Strategy and introduce a revised Municipal Planning Strategy and a new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law that includes coastal protection regulations. These regulations are now in effect.

"Today marks a significant step forward in safeguarding our coastal communities for future generations," said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. "These new coastal regulations reflect our commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change and ensuring that our coastlines remain resilient and protected. We have worked closely with our residents and experts to develop these regulations, and their input has been invaluable in shaping a sustainable future for the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg."

Information about this project, including the new Land Use By-law, can be found at engage.modl.ca/coastal-protection. pdf A backgrounder with highlights of important changes is attached (516 KB) .

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(902) 541-1328