Underwater Construction Debris Will Help Build Halifax’s Next Deep-Water Terminal
HALIFAX–The Port of Halifax is preparing to fill in an eight-acre stretch of harbour, which is an early step in the creation of a new deep-water terminal. The project will begin in May and take approximately three years to finish.
The infill will happen between two of the Port’s existing piers located directly north of the South End Container Terminal, near the Halifax Grain Elevator.
Because of the infilling, two sheds and some rail sidings will be closed starting in May. The Port said it is trying to accommodate the companies who regularly use these areas.
The Port can’t give an exact timeframe on when the basin will be filled because it is relying on discarded material from development projects in downtown Halifax.
Halifax is built atop bedrock that contains something called pyritic slate. This material creates an acidic runoff when it rains so it can’t be left out in the open or disposed of in a typical landfill.
But the material is safe when it’s not exposed to oxygen, such as when it is submerged and made into an artificial land structure. In fact, the Port of Halifax has been submerging this slate for years at its Fairview Cove facility, which is quickly running out of space.
With the amount of development occurring in Halifax, there is a higher demand for slate disposal. Considering that the Port needed to, eventually, infill the basin anyway, the timing was perfect to start the project while the construction market was hot.
“I’ve been with the Port for eight years and it’s just been one long construction boom in the downtown for most of that time,” says Lane Farguson, spokesperson for the Port of Halifax.
“When the opportunity came up to use the material, it made sense [to start now].”
That means the development community has a new space to dump 500,000 cubic metres of slate and the Port gets the material it needs to help its long-term growth. Farguson called it a win-win for everyone involved.
In fact, accepting the slate will greatly offset the costs of the infill. The Port charges $16.50 per metric tonne as a tipping fee.
“It’s going to be a very cost-effective way of infilling that basin,” said Farguson. “There will be some startup costs in getting the area set up. There will be some finishing costs as well. So, I can’t say if one will offset the other.”
One concern people have with infilling projects is any potential harm it could cause to marine life. One local example is the controversial plan for private landowners to infill the Northwest Arm in Halifax. Opponents argue this will have consequences for the fish habitats in the area.
When asked about any similar concerns over the Port’s planned infill, Farguson claimed the environmental impact wouldn’t be so strong.
“There’s some fairly significant differences between infilling in the Northwest Arm and filling in an industrial area like this,” said Farguson.
“In terms of wildlife, there wouldn’t be much marine habitat now because it’s already being used for industrial purposes [for nearly 100 years].”
Regardless, the Port says it is working with Clean Nova Scotia to create 260 artificial reefs which it hopes will offset the environmental impact created by the infilling. The site of the reefs is yet to be determined.
When the infilling is complete in roughly three years, the new structure will be used, temporarily, for container storage. But when a second basin is eventually infilled the two infilled basins will help create a new deep-water terminal.
But Farguson says that will take many years to complete.
The plan for a new terminal is a sign of increased cargo demand at the port of Halifax. In 2021, despite the challenges of Covid, the Port took in nearly 600,000 TEU of cargo, up 17 percent from 2020. It’s also six percent more than the previous high set in 2017.
Derek Montague is a Huddle reporter in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].