Norfolk staff content with beach agreement

Mayor Amy Martin

Luke Edwards

Advocate Correspondent

Sometimes no news is good news.

Year two of an agreement between the county and private landowners to provide beach access in Port Dover was described in a staff report as “uneventful” and a success, leading them to recommend continuing the agreement.

In 2023 the county entered into lease agreements with the largest private landowners of Port Dover Beach to provide space for the public to go in the summer and formalize what had been going on for years. The agreement also came with rules of conduct for beach goers, with the county paying for enforcement staff to monitor the beach.

Enforcement has mostly been focused on an awareness/education approach.

“Compliance seems to be getting better year after year,” said CAO Al Meneses.

“I think the approach is working.”

Tents were by far the biggest issue enforcement dealt with when interacting with the public. Tents that are closed off aren’t allowed on the beach, and staff said once members of the public were informed of the rule they generally complied.

Dogs and smoking/vaping were the next two highest interactions, followed by umbrellas, alcohol, barbecues, and glass containers or fires. There were no interactions between the enforcement team and the public for littering or urination.

Staff recommend continuing the agreement. The staff report said property owners were content as well, but did offer some suggestions for improvement, including improved signage and garbage collection.

There was some questioning of the ongoing cost of enforcement. Mayor Amy Martin asked if this was just something that’s now baked into the county’s budget.

However, Meneses said if things continue to go well there may come a time where enforcement needs are lessened.