More than $10 million in government funding to help restore a southeastern New Brunswick wharf.
The Pointe-du-Chêne wharf received considerable damage during hurricane Fiona nearly two years ago.
Federal and provincial officials were on hand Thursday to announce funding for restoration work.
“Without investments from the Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick and business owners themselves, we wouldn’t have been able to ensure the continued safe operation of this facility,” Beauséjour MP Dominic LeBlanc said during the news conference.
The federal government contributed more than $8.2 million while the remaining $2.3 million came from the province.
According to a government news release, projects include the rehabilitation of the wharf access, walking paths and parking areas.
Included in the funding was $577,000 for the Pointe-du-Chêne Yacht Club, which also suffered damage in the storm.
Kim Murray-Atkinson, president of Pointe-du-Chêne Harbour Authority Inc., said the creation of the federal Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund was a godsend.
“The damages incurred by the Harbour Authority property were extensive and it’s questionable that we could have opened the Wharf to the visiting public and various stakeholders for the 2023 season,” said Murray-Atkinson.
“The Fund allowed the Harbour Authority to substantially improve the resilience of the Wharf infrastructure. This will enable the said infrastructure to better withstand the impacts of future major storms.”
The Government of New Brunswick’s portion came from the Regional Development Corporation’s Rural Economy Fund.
