Unnecessary beacons

Channel Head Lighthouse is just one of 488 active lighthouses and navigational beacons across Canada that were declared surplus by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) earlier this month.

Boar Island Light near Burgeo and West Point Light at the mouth of Francois Bay are two other active lighthouses on the southwest coast affected by the decision.

Some inactive lights including one on Cains Island outside Rose Blanche and the Fox Roost Wharf Light have also been declared surplus, and will remain off.

A spokesman with DFO said no active light will be switched off. Rather, DFO is attempting to divest the buildings while maintaining navigational lights in those areas.

Community groups have two years to apply for ownership of surplus lighthouses. The government says the move will allow communities to maintain potential tourist attractions.

In cases where community groups take over the cost of lighthouse upkeep, DFO would require agreements to maintain the light within the building.

In other cases, lights on towers would be erected to take the place of deteriorating buildings.

If no one steps forward to take over the lighthouses, the properties will remain under government control, but no maintenance will be preformed.

Many of the lighthouses have been declared contaminated sites by the federal government. The spokesman said DFO will not hand over contaminated sites to community groups until they have been cleaned up.

Local impact

Sharon Durnford, chair of the Francois tourism committee said it is unlikely any organization in that community will accept the government's offer to take charge of the West Point Lighthouse.

She said the lighthouse and adjacent building are already in such poor shape, they aren't worth fixing. Access to the remote site is too difficult to use it as a place to show tourists, according to Mrs. Durnford.

She said the lighthouse was last staffed about 18 years ago and admits she will be sorry to see it decay over time.

"The community has a connection to it. When our boats were out fishing, it was their contact. The keeper communicated to the harbour. You know, when you pass along by it now, it seems like such a waste," she said.

The issue of Channel Head Lighthouse had Port aux Basques Town Council members scratching their heads.

Mayor Brian Button noted that with a major ferry service in operation nearby, plus a major shipping lane with heavy traffic just off the coast, he couldn't understand declaring the site surplus.

Town Manager Melvin Keeping said the town would be on the hook for the cost of maintenance forever if they accepted the offer.

Mayor Button said this very threat came up once before, and town council managed to have the decision overturned.

Council agreed to send a letter to DFO requesting more information.

The mayor said the town has been trying to use Channel Head Lighthouse as a tourist destination for years. They acquired a parcel of land closest to the island some years ago, and the possibility of a bridge or walkway to the island has always been on the table, according to the mayor.

The lights at Cape Ray and Cape Anguille lights were not on the list.

reporter@gulfnews.ca