The Plante administration’s commitment to providing swimmable access to the river in eastern Montreal is in serious trouble, two years after its promised opening date.
The chosen location, Promenade-Bellerive Park, is still closed to swimmers, according to a sign posted by the city. And for good reason: local public health is concerned that swimmers could make themselves sick, and Ottawa is worried about the impact of their presence on an endangered fish species, according to documents from last spring obtained by The Press.
All these stakeholders discussed the matter on April 4 because the City wanted to be able to allow swimming from this summer, reveals a meeting report written by an official.
“The regional public health directorate [de Montréal] indicates that, based on the information submitted, an opinion recommending a ban on swimming in 2024 will be produced and disseminated,” the document states. “Indeed, the location on a former waste disposal site without soil covering measures, the presence of volatile organic compounds and the presence of an outfall with a defective valve immediately upstream of the site are some of the reasons reasons which justify this recommendation. »
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, for its part, has expressed significant reservations about the project due to the nearby presence of seagrass beds frequented by the copper redhorse, a fish which “is only found in Quebec” and which worries biologists. The Quebec Ministry of the Environment was also concerned about “a significant number of spills at the Port of Montreal”, just upstream.
“Extremely laborious process”
In 2021, in the middle of the electoral campaign, Valérie Plante seemed confident in summoning the media to the Promenade-Bellerive park.
“Projet Montréal is committed to providing access to water and swimming at the Promenade-Bellerive park from the summer of 2022,” the political party then indicated. “Starting next year, Montrealers will be able to swim there in complete safety. For our team, access to our banks and waterways is a priority,” promised Mme Plant.
On Thursday, the mayor of the local district indicated that the file was more complex than expected.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The mayor of the borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Pierre Lessard-Blais
For several years, significant efforts have been made to obtain the necessary authorizations from government authorities.
Pierre Lessard-Blais, mayor of the borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, in a statement sent by his office
“It is an extremely laborious process that involves several government agencies and provincial and federal departments, each having their say,” he added.
Mr. Lessard-Blais said he was disappointed by the criticism expressed by Public Health towards the project, to the extent that swimmers are already defying the ban on wet bathing. “Access to water exists whether we like it or not,” he said. “We respect the skills of the regional public health department, but it must be said that it is disappointing to be asked for more work, when we simply want to improve the safety of an already existing situation. »
A complete riverbank restoration project is planned for the turn of the decade.
“Total amateurism”
The official opposition sees things differently.
“This shows the total amateurism of the Projet Montréal administration, both in the borough and in the city centre,” attacked Tétreaultville elected official Julien Hénault-Ratelle, who no longer entertains the idea of being able to swim in the short or medium term at Promenade-Bellerive Park. “They made a promise without ensuring that it was achievable.”
Mr. Hénault-Ratelle also deplores that Mr. Lessard-Blais’ team has started to develop the beach, which could lead some to believe that swimming is permitted. In the access documents, the Quebec Ministry of the Environment also highlights the carrying out of “work which would have been carried out without authorization”.
The regional public health department refused the interview request of The Press for the moment, explaining that she had to continue her work.
The organization “will soon make public an opinion on the health risks posed by the project to develop a public beach in the Promenade-Bellerive park,” indicated public relations advisor Marianne Paquette. “This opinion, which is currently being finalized, aims to inform decision-makers and the public of the health risks present on the site and to issue recommendations to ensure safe access to the site and swimming for the public.”
The story so far
2021
Projet Montréal promises to develop a swimming area at the Promenade-Bellerive park the following year.
2023
The area is still closed to bathers, with the local administration saying it hopes to be able to open next year.
2024
The places are still closed to swimmers, Public Health and the Environment ministries of both levels of government have significant reservations about the project.
With the collaboration of William Leclerc, The Press