The Government of Nunavut (GN), through Community and Government Services (CGS) on behalf of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation (EDT), plans to construct a new small craft harbour (SCH) in the Hamlet of Pond Inlet (the Project). The development of a SCH has been studied since the 1990s. Funding for the Project is now available through the new Canada Build Fund and the GN.
The Hamlet is a community overlooking Eclipse Sound and the mountains of Bylot Island. The closest communities are Arctic Bay (238 km west), Clyde River (401 km southeast) and Grise Fiord (438 km north). The economy of the Hamlet is generally based on traditional subsistence activities mixed with wage activities. Hunting is essential to life and the harvesting of ringed seal, Arctic char, narwhal, and caribou are of importance.
The proposed location for the SCH is the beach that has been used for decades by the community. There is a small existing boat launching ramp and sealift area that is accessible by existing Hamlet roads.
The Project includes the construction and operation of a SCH, consisting of two rock breakwaters protecting a 2.5 hectare inward-facing harbour, a sealift ramp and a laydown area, two strings of floating docks that will accommodate up to 80 small boats, and a fixed wharf with a dredge berth pocket and an approach channel to provide larger boats with access to the wharf.
The Project will also include the use of a rock quarry about 5 km from the Hamlet to produce about 200,000 tonnes of rock. The haul route to transport the rocks to the site will either follow the existing roads through the Hamlet or a purpose-built alternate haul route that bypasses the main part of the Hamlet. Discussions are ongoing with the Hamlet regarding the preferred route and the future use and management of the alternate haul route, if constructed and the development and operation of the quarry, which may be led by the Hamlet.
Alternative locations and designs have been evaluated. The proposed location is supported by the community, has excellent access and is already extensively used by boat owners. Four alternatives for the layout of the SCH were presented to the community for feedback.
The Project will improve existing boat access and the overall safety of marine activities in the community by providing a protected harbour for recreational users, hunters, fishers and cruise ship tender boats. The harbour will be protected from high winds and waves. Small boat activities will be separated from sealift operations to make sealift delivery safer and more efficient and to reduce the effects of on the small boats. Traffic and congestion will be improved by the new parking and laydown area. Sealift barges will offload at the new ramp. The fixed wharf will be able to accommodate larger boats, such as inland fishing vessels. Access by ATV or trucks on the beach within the SCH will be improved by placing a layer of gravel on the surface.
Construction will start in summer 2018 with the arrival of the first sealift. Construction will continue in 2019 in late May with completion of the SCH in the fall of 2019. The installation of small craft floats and final demobilisation will occur in 2020.
Potable water, sanitary waste disposal, and fuel supply are expected to be provided by the Hamlet. However, the Contractor will secure an independent fuel supply if there is not existing capacity via the Hamlet. The primary fuel required for marine and land-based equipment will be primarily diesel. Refuelling of mobile equipment will occur in designated fuelling areas. The marine fleet will refuel at sea from bunker tanks.
Approximately 20 workers will be required for construction. Non-local workers are expected to stay in an expansion module at the Sauniq Hotel. Construction equipment will arrive on the sealift and workers and consumables will arrive in the Hamlet through the airport.
The equipment expected to be used for construction includes drill rigs, excavators, rock transport trucks, front end loaders, compactors, dozers and graders, cranes and forklifts and other equipment. Workboats and tugboats will also be needed.
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) has been gathered during workshops, an elder interview and map biography exercise and was incorporated into project design and baseline information.
There has been consultation with the community, including hunters, fishers, residents, Hamlet Mayor, Council and administration, HTO and key community stakeholders, since June 2016 and this will continue through construction of the Project. Meetings, interviews, workshops and open houses were used to share information about the Project both in English and in Inuktitut. Consultation with the Mayor and Council and the HTO will continue throughout the design development and construction phases of the Project.