Introduction

Proponent

Town of Goderich

Location

Town of Goderich

Type

Other

Reference number

09133

Contact

Current status

Environmental assessment: approved, November 26, 2014

Project summary

The purpose of the wharf expansion is to provide additional loading/unloading space for ships; additional storage space of salt as well as other commodities; and wind and wave protection to the inner harbour.

Project history

Environmental assessment: approved
Date submitted: February 21, 2014
Expiry of public comment period: April 11, 2014
Expiry of public comment period for Ministry Review: July 25, 2014
Decision date: November 26, 2014

Terms of reference: approved
Date submitted:  May 21, 2010
Expiry of public comment period: June 21, 2010
Decision date: February 10, 2011

Environmental assessment

The Goderich Port Management Corporation has completed the environmental assessment for the proposed Goderich Harbour Wharf Expansion. As required under section 6.2(1) of the Environmental Assessment Act and according to the terms of reference approved by the Minister of the Environment on February 16, 2011, the Goderich Port Management Corporation submitted its environmental assessment on February 21, 2014 to the Ministry of the Environment for review and decision.

The purpose of Goderich’s Harbour’s wharf expansion project is to provide for additional stable off-loading and on-shore storage areas, to provide greater shelter within the harbour. The twin-slip wharf expansion will provide two additional docking spaces, maintain the existing Dock 7 and create an additional 6.3 hectares of loading/off-loading and storage space for salt, aggregates and other commodities. The wharf configuration will also provide greater shelter from wind and wave action in the outer harbour. The intersection of North Harbour Road and Highway 21 will be monitored as the wharf expansion transpires and additional warning devices will be implemented when warranted by Ministry of Transportation requirements.

The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change approved the environmental assessment on November 26, 2014.

Terms of reference

The Goderich Harbour port lands are owned by the Town, however the operation and management of the port is undertaken by the Goderich Port Management Corporation (GPMC). The GPMC is a not-for-profit organization comprised of commercial port users. The GPMC is acting on behalf of the Town and proposes to expand wharf facilities at Goderich Harbour, including improvements to North Harbour Road. The purpose of the wharf expansion is to provide:

  • additional loading/unloading space for ships
  • additional storage space of salt as well as other commodities
  • wind and wave protection to the inner harbour

There is currently insufficient storage space for existing users, and no storage capacity for new users. The additional space will be used for the storage for a number of commodities including aggregate, salt and grain. The wharf expansion may include improvements to North Harbour Road to remediate existing deficiencies and better accommodate traffic associated with the expanded storage space.

Goderich Harbour is also exposed at times to adverse lake conditions as it is located on the windward side of Lake Huron. The opportunity exists as part of this project to provide better protection to the inner harbour from wave action. The impacts of wave action on existing harbour infrastructure will be examined and documented in the EA.

Study area

Goderich Harbour is located at the mouth of the Maitland River, in the northwest quadrant of the Town’s municipal limits, on the eastern shore of Lake Huron. The harbour is comprised of an inner and outer harbour, with the land base sloping gradually westward towards Lake Huron, and a site elevation of approximately 178 metres above sea level.

For the purposes of this undertaking the study area has been divided into primary and secondary study areas. The primary study area is restricted to the inner and outer harbour areas identified for expanded wharf facilities and North Harbour Road, and will be the focus of the EA study. The secondary study area includes the mouth of the Maitland River and the lower Maitland River valley areas adjacent to the harbour.

Approval

In response to input received during the comment period, the GPMC undertook additional Aboriginal consultation and took a time-out from regulated timelines to address concerns raised. The GPMC submitted an Amended ToR to the MOE for approval on August 24, 2010. The amendments to the ToR included: commitments to working with the MOE to determine the air quality assessment approach in the EA; commitments to identifying site controls and containment to mitigate stormwater impacts; commitment to include a description of the historical management and influences on the baseline harbour conditions in the EA; and address the impacts of the proposed in-fill within the harbour on littoral drift north and south of the harbour. Additionally, the GPMC submitted an errata letter to the Amended ToR on September 9, 2010 to address outstanding GRT concerns. The errata letter includes commitments regarding air quality assessment during the EA, and impacts to species at risk assessment.

On February 10, 2011, the Minister approved the GPMC's Amended ToR for the Goderich Harbour Wharf Expansion Project and further amended the Amended ToR to include the September 9, 2010 errata letter. The approved ToR sets out the GPMC's framework and requirements for the preparation and review of the EA for the proposed undertaking.