Kincardine okays process for immediate safety measures at piers, lakefront

Despite setting up a committee to determine safety measures at the Kincardine Harbour piers and the lakefront, Kincardine council has agreed to put in place several items to immediately address beach safety.

A motion was brought forward by councillors Amanda Steinhoff-Gray and Jennifer Prenger, Oct. 11, urging council to direct staff to implement several recommendations contained in the Aquatic Safety Audit Report, dated June 2, 2016, prepared by the Life Saving of Canada.

By the end of October, they want the following implemented:
 

• No Swimming Zone – designated at least 100 metres south of the south pier and 100 metres north of the north pier
• Pier Signage – No Swimming and Warning – Strong Currents signage on the floor of the pier or on vertical signposts along the lake and harbour sides of both piers
• Safe Swimming Area – clearly designated through signs, beach flags and buoy markers
• Rip Current Safety Signage – simplified rip current signage at each access point and in other locations along the boardwalk; warning information should be visible for patrons approaching from either the waterfront or parking lot areas

By the end of December, staff is to complete an assessment to implement the following:
 

• Upgrade the current exit points from the piers (i.e. the ladders), including use of ladder extensions; complete with required work and costs to make necessary repairs, purchase additional ladder extensions, etc.
• Improve signage associated with lifesaving stations on both piers, listing equipment at these stations, what to do when equipment is missing, and instructions on where to locate the AED equipment
• Repair the existing spalling damage to the concrete decks of both piers
• Paint a 100-millimetre-wide yellow strip along the perimeter edge of both piers for enhanced visibility

In addition, council is to direct staff to review, revise if required, and present to council by March 1, 2024, the inspection program that ensures any deficiencies in the above will be identified and addressed.

And finally, staff is to report on the status of aquatic safety measures at Station Beach, annually, before May 1 of each year.

Steinhoff-Gray said this motion was prompted by the concerns in the community that the municipality is not doing enough to address beach safety.

“I urge every member of council to walk the piers and really take a look at them,” she said. “If there’s something we can do to prevent another tragedy from happening, we have to take steps to do what we can. I think this motion is a step in the right direction.”

She said the ad hoc committee that was struck to study safety at the piers, can determine how effective these measures are.

“I also challenge the committee to think about creating a mural at the beach, consider the stories of the victims,” she said. “When you have a story that touches you, that resonates with you, that means more than a sign talking about rip currents.

“This is a step in the right direction but there’s a lot more that can be done.”

Deputy mayor Andrea Clarke asked whether the timeline was too tight to get these things in place.

Recreation manager Karen Kieffer said the Oct. 31 deadline would be tough to meet, given the time required to get things ordered and delivered; however, the Dec. 31 deadline could be met. “Updated signage could take until the middle or end of November.

“We could direct staff to make best efforts to implement those recommendations by Oct. 31,” said councillor Mike Hinchberger.

Mayor Kenneth Craig said council put in place an ad hoc committee to bring forward recommendations regarding pier safety.

“If we move ahead with this motion, and implement these measures, we wouldn’t need this committee anymore,” he said. “This is literally why we were going through the process with the ad hoc committee. I don’t support the motion. We should wait for the recommendations from the committee.”

“I don’t think we should wait,” said Steinhoff-Gray. “We talked about ladders and the appropriate locations, and the fact that the rip current signage is not located where you’d see it if you were walking onto the beach.

“I believe this is the minimum we’ve been trying to get in place to be ready for next summer. Then the committee can see the effectiveness of these measures and be the voice of reason to improve safety at the beach.”

Council approved the motion.

At the Oct. 25 meeting, council appointed councillor Rory Cavanagh to sit on the pier safety ad hoc committee.