Rotting whale that caused political stink, Sandy Cove, Nova Scotia

Wed Jun 20 2012

Richard J. BrennanNational Affairs Writer

The Nova Scotia government has finally removed the putrid carcass of a whale from a popular beach.

Digby Neck resident Linda Moore takes dogs Amale, Nessie and Bertie for a walk on Sandy Cove beach past the rotting whale carcass that is stinking up this popular beach.

Andy Neimers/For the Toronto Star

“With summer temperatures and increased tourist activity, the department has assessed the site, and as landowner, we are moving to bury the remains of the whale on the beach,” Dan Davis, a spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources said.

“An excavator has been hired to do the work.”

The carcass was buried Tuesday afternoon.

The remains of the rotting whale on a popular beach in Nova Scotia had turned into a political football.

While residents of Sandy Cove in Digby Neck and tourists were holding their noses, both local and provincial politicians claimed it was not their responsibility to bury or remove the stinking corpse that has been there for well over a month.

Sandy Cove is considered one of the finest beaches in Nova Scotia and attracts thousands of tourists drawn to the Bay of Fundy every year. Having a rotting whale there is … continued …

thestar.com

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Beached whale rots while different levels of government argue over who is responsible for its removal

20/06/2012 8:30:00 AM

by Nevil Hunt

Sandy Cove was a nice place for a visit to the beach until a dead whale washed ashore. A month later, its remains remain embroiled in dispute.
 For more than a month, different levels of government have abdicated responsibility to clean up a beached whale in Sandy Cove, N.S.

Someone needs to drag the carcass away or bury it, but neither the municipality nor the province will pay the tab.

At this point it barely matters who’s bluffing or who will fold, as the town’s tourist season has opened and the smell won’t make anyone happy.

It’s hard to believe that on a stretch of coastline where people have been living for centuries, there’s no clear policy on which level of government is responsible.

“We didn’t feel it was a municipal concern because it is on provincially owned land,” the deputy warden of the Municipality of the District of Digby told a reporter.

The cost of removal is understandably an issue; it’s not just anyone who has the equipment to do the job. But beyond taxes, the most serious price will be paid by businesses that rely on visitors.

The deputy warden said a letter sent to … continued …

news.sympatico.ca

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