MONCTON – Campground owners in Shediac, N.B. are upset about potentially losing business after a local MLA publicized plans to build a new mega-site in the area.
Local MLA Victor Boudreau and his business partner have proposed to build a new 750-site campground in the heart of cottage county, even though there are eight others already operating in the region.
Despite the fears of those already set up, some business owners and residents in the small tourist town say growth is good.
Joanna Nhri, whose family runs Jack’s Pizza pizza in Shediac, says they would welcome the idea of another campground.
“It’s a good thing for us,” she said. “More tourists, more people, more business.”
She says their business doubles in the summer months.
But some campground owners in the region fear there just isn’t enough business to support another campground, especially one with 750 extra sites.
Those owners plan to meet behind closed doors Monday night, and will form a committee to have a collective voice against the issue.
Not everyone in the community supports their cause, however. Suzanne Bourque, who grew up in Shediac, says growth is what the town needs.
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“They are greedy and want it all, and don’t want to give a chance for someone else to build up,” she said.
“There are no hotels or bed-and-breakfasts, so there is nothing to offer but … the camping, so I think it’s a good idea.”
The proposed location for the campground is next to Parlee Beach on a large parcel of land between Shediac and Pointe-du-Chêne.
“The traffic will be horrendous,” said resident Elizabeth Martin. “You put 750 trailers in there and figure four people per trailer — that’s 3,000 people.”
David Maltais, the owner of the Camping Oceanic campground, says he wants the town do an impact study before giving the developers the go-ahead. Town council must approve to rezone the land before the project can proceed, but that hasn’t happened yet.
The town says it is neither for or against the idea, but it does plan to hear arguments from both sides.
The Shediac Planning Commission is compiling a report on the campground proposal, which it plans to present on March 20.
Town council will hold a public consultation meeting about the project on March 30.
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