At a special meeting of council, St. Andrews council reviewed five different proposals for repairing or replacing the town wharf, as well as raising the Market Square area to safeguard against future sea-level rise. This development comes after the initial $3.4 million design was approved in 2021, but had to be reevaluated due to cost increases.

Mayor Brad Henderson emphasized the need for public consultation regarding the new options, particularly since amalgamation brought Chamcook and Bayside residents into the municipality without their prior input on the project and its implications for the new entity.

The funding for the project is divided on a 70/30 basis, with the municipality contributing 30 percent. Mayor Henderson announced that funding partners have committed $7.8 million towards the project.

The five repair and replacement options for the wharf approach range from simply repairing the existing structure at $5.37 million over 21 months, to filling in the wharf approach with rock and armor stone for $6.06 million over 12 months. Other options include using precast concrete stacks for $7.88 million over 18 months, utilizing steel piles and concrete for $8.2 million over 18 months, or a combination of infill and steel piles for $7.82 million over 13 months, with all estimates including the design phase.

Kori MacPherson, a senior structural marine engineer, provided insight into these options. The first option of replacing some piles and creating a new timber crib structure, while allowing access during construction, falls short of climate change goals and longevity expectations.

The second option, replacing the entire approach structure with rock infill, offers a longer-lasting solution of 50-plus years but had received negative feedback previously due to its impact on the town’s heritage aesthetics.

The third proposal involves constructing an 82-meter approach structure with steel piles and concrete, maintaining the heritage look with timber dressing. This option may block access to the wharf during the tourist season. An alternative hybrid version was proposed at a slightly lower cost.

The remaining option introduces precast concrete blocks stacked atop each other, though it may impede access to the wharf, and cost could vary based on crane usage.

The project aims to balance aesthetics, timing, and costs, with public consultations scheduled to take place in early October, leading to results by December. The project must be completed by 2026, with construction set to begin next fall. While challenges regarding tides and maintaining access are being considered, questions about the lifespan of the wharf’s end and its long-term funding impact the project’s future. Preliminary talks of collaborating with the federal government to combine resources with the Huntsman Marine Science Centre’s plans to build a new wharf are also being explored. Mayor Henderson emphasized the importance of public input, recognizing both short-term and long-term consequences for the community.