Petrie Island beach endures minor facelifts after major setbacks

Last year, the city proposed to build a beach house along with the addition of a cantina, a lifeguard station and, most importantly, public washrooms, but those plans won't be met in 2007, say the Friends of Petrie Island.

Group chair Al Tweddle says it's a dollar and cents thing. "Because there was a tight budget, (the city) didn't want to ask for more money, but I don't know how much more it would have taken," he explains.

Dan Brisebois, the east end area manager of Ottawa Parks and Recreation, confirms that the city put out a tender and the bids came out higher than expected. As a result, he says the project had to be cut back to such degree that the city won't be able to proceed with construction taking place at the site.

Though portable washrooms will once again be available to the public, Tweddle, like most of the island's patrons, is disappointed that none of the changes imagined will be coming to fruition.

Brisebois says it's possible that construction could begin in the fall for the beach facility, but while those plans are under further review, the servicing to the sewer and water system is already underway. The area affected involves the system near south of the North Service Road area by Regional 174. However, this work leaves only a portion of the budget available for other endeavours. "The only other thing the Friends of Petrie is pushing is this little turnaround drop-off spot (at the end of the parking lot on Trim Road). It's been looked at for two years," says Tweddle. "We have to secure the area somehow, (as of now) you can just drive over the curb and go down to the beach. Since the building won't be there, there's no excuse not to build it. We would like to see that as a positive out of this year."

Brisebois says that seeing as there will be no construction this summer in the drop-off area, the city is looking to open more spaces for vehicles by removing the cement blocks located in the parking lot.

This further disappointment comes after last summer's controversy at Petrie's beach involving closures and contaminated water. Both city councillors and staff have promised to investigate the cause. "The occurrence last year was an unusual occurrence," says Brisebois. "We are investigating further what the source might be."

Brisebois notes they have been testing the water levels at Petrie Island since 2002. "In 2005, Petrie Island was the second best beach in Ottawa as far as for water quality," he says in terms of E. coli levels. "In 2006, we got off to a good start, things were well until mid-July, early August when we had a blip and it affected the overall balance substantially."

Brisebois admits that averaged over the course of the summer, Petrie Island's water numbers came out as one of the worst in 2006. However, Ontario's water standards are more stringent than the national, provincial and even Québec's standards. "Quebec tests once a week, while we test our waters daily."

He adds that steps are being taken to improve on last year's results. "This summer, additional means of communicating water chemistry levels to the public will be instituted. We're adding a two colour flag system for the first time this summer." Brisebois says a green flag will signify good water quality, while a red flag means beachcombers are advised not to go swimming. This system can be used along with the already existing measures, visiting the city of Ottawa website, calling Ottawa Parks and Recreation at extension 13219 and reading signage posted behind the lifeguard posts.

So as the city continues testing in hopes of settling the issue behind last year's high contamination levels, Brisebois would like to reassure the public that the beach will be assessable to the public as soon as weather permits and supervised life guarding will commence in mid-June. -- Michael McClymont