Kincardine council has agreed to put up to $92,000 towards improving safety at its piers this year.
The municipality says in a release, since 2008, a total of 13 drownings and near-miss incidents have occurred in the
waters near the Kincardine piers.
A long-standing ban on swimming or jumping from the piers is already in place.
Last September, council established a Pier Safety Ad-hoc Committee.
That committee presented recommendations at council’s March 6th meeting.
They recommend both piers remain open year-round with appropriate signage.
Recommendations have been categorized by importance. In the years to follow, council will consider other recommendations in those annual budgets.
2024 Recommendations:
Installation of 10 new ladders
New sign designs and installation
Improvements to lifesaving stations
Emergency parking enhancements
Beach Blazers program development
High-Priority Recommendations:
Phase in new ladder installations over a 1-to-4-year period
Increase lifesaving stations from 2 to 4
Enhance access signs to the piers emphasizing no jumping
Painting of the pier perimeter bright yellow with enhancements
Enhance signage to reflect risks and the 911 location
Redefine non-swimming area located south of the south pier from 100 meters to 200 meters
Medium-Priority Recommendations:
Gate design and installation at pier entrances
Consideration of fines for patrons who use the piers contrary to approved uses
Parking pilot project for 2024 with additional direction signs identifying parking locations based
on patron usage
Removal of existing large, blue, decorative chairs located at the northern section of Station
Beach
Installations to deter people from parking in emergency parking locations
Consideration of a volunteer supported beach patrol (ambassador) program for a one-year trial
in collaboration with other community partners along with expansion and enhancement of the
existing beach education program with continual education opportunities for patrons at the
waterfront
You can find more here: www.kincardine.ca/Pier-Safety-Report.
