Access to Fundy beach restricted by landowner fed up with garbage, fires, human waste
Province promotes beach on website but doesn't provide infrastructure
Rice Fuller fell in love with Waterside Beach after he moved to New Brunswick from New York City.
The two kilometres of sandy shores are nestled between Alma and Cape Enrage on the Fundy Coast. At low tide, there can be more than 500 metres of red sand between the grassy dunes and the crashing waves.
"I just don't think I've ever seen a beach this big, this open and with so few people on it," said Fuller, who eventually built a house nearby.
"I have this one amazing memory of being here on Canada Day a few years back with my two children. We were the only three people on this huge beach on Canada Day though, no less."
But in recent years, the beach has become considerably more popular. Fuller says since the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor explorers have also discovered the beach.
Waterside Beach is promoted on the province's tourism website. It's described as "An outstanding saltwater beach for beachcombing, listening to the surf as the waves break on the shore, and wildlife viewing."
It has all led to growing crowds on sunny days and rowdier visitors when that sun goes down. With no washrooms or trash cans, things started to get gross.
Edward Hoar owns the land that accesses Waterside Beach. His home overlooks the sands and cliffs that border the Bay of Fundy. For years he was OK with people parking on his property and crossing his land to get to the beach.
But as the crowds grew, so did the piles of garbage they'd leave behind. He said groups started having fires on the beach late at night, even during the province's burn bans. He said trucks started to drive down onto the beach and tear up the dunes.
A
listing on the province's tourism website shows a photo of Waterside
Beach and describs it as 'An outstanding saltwater beach for
beachcombing, listening to the surf as the waves break on the shore, and
wildlife viewing." (New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage)
Then he caught someone on camera defecating in his driveway.
"I wish I was kidding," said Hoar. "We just said 'enough is enough.'"
Up went the 'No Trespassing' signs and a fence made from wire and rebar. Vehicles are no longer able to park on his land and the easy access to Waterside Beach has been blocked.
Hoar said he takes issue with the beach being promoted on the province's website.
"It's not public, there's no garbage cans here, no washroom facilities," said Hoar. "You [invite] people to an area that's not maintained."
Government response
Bob Rochon, Fundy Albert's mayor, said he's disappointed the beach has been abused to the point where easy access had to be cut off.
"I will tell you from having been a tourist who has been down in that area and knowing the folks in question, I completely and wholeheartedly support what they did," said Rochon.
He said his new municipal government could look at placing infrastructure on the beach, but it hasn't been explored yet.
CBC News requested an interview with the province's Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, but one was not provided. Instead a statement from the department said, in part, "Waterside Beach has been promoted as a 'discovery beach' by Tourism New Brunswick for many years."
Edward
Hoar says he had no choice but to construct a fence and place 'No
Trespassing' signs on his property leading to Waterview Beach after some
visitors were abusing the land and leaving a mess. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
"Although it is not managed by the province, this is a public beach with multiple owners such as Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited and private landowners," said the statement. "We have not been asked at any point to remove the listing and would be a question for the landowner and for the local authorities as THC [Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture] has no jurisdiction."
Rochon and Hoar both said they wish the province would direct tourists to the nearby Dennis Beach instead. It previously operated as a provincial park, is a five-minute drive away and is still owned by the province. But it also lacks washrooms and trash cans, and access requires a steep descent down a sandy embankment that is not for the faint of heart.
Rice Fuller and his family became so enamored with Waterside Beach that they've built a home nearby. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
For now though, Waterside Beach still has limited access through a narrow roadway that offers limited space to park and requires beach goers to walk through a pool of marsh water to get to the shoreline. Hoar also owns that property. He said he could block that access point as well if things continue to deteriorate.
Fuller said he understands and supports the decision, but he's still disappointed.
"I was just kind of bummed out," said Fuller. "That this amazing jewel of a place here in New Brunswick, people could no longer access easily."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Content Deactivated My dog would love to catch someone defecating in his domain
David Amos
Methinks none of these folks even now who I am N'esy Pas?
David Amos
This is a public beach
"We have not been asked at any point to remove the listing and would be a question for the landowner and for the local authorities as THC [Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture] has no jurisdiction."
you do not have the freedom to drive or walk on the owner's land to get to the beach.
Content Deactivated
Reply to Steph Roche
Too bad so sad that you cannot read all my comments eh?
Reply to Maya Tikal
Rochon and Hoar both said they wish the province would direct tourists to the nearby Dennis Beach instead.
hmmmm it appears he dosnt want anybody there............its a public beach
Reply to Dan Lee
Reply to Steph Roche
Reply to Steph Roche
Reply to Steph Roche
Reply to Marc Andre
Is that a picture of all the people they could find who support the federal liberal policies?
Reply to Jack Bell
Define middle class.
Is it someone who can afford food and electricity in the same month?I don't have to, I choose to.
One must stay informed, otherwise how can one make informed decisions?
Reply to Felix Mitchell
Reply to York Colonial
Reply to York Colonial
Sounds like Canadians all agree on at least one thing in these turbulent times, that beach is a beautiful place to drop a deuce
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to York Colonial
Interesting that you can post such a comment while mine are pending approval
Tom Campbell
I fully support the land owner. When I read articles like this, I start wondering if there's any hope for this species.
Dwayne Allan
Reply to Tom Campbell
You aren't alone.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Tom Campbell
If saw a dude taking a dump on my property I would let my dog off his chain
York Colonial
Reply to Tom Campbell
David Amos
Reply to York Colonial
York Colonial
Reply to David Amos
MR Cain
Reply to York Colonial
The monarch owns this land in name only as the Canadian government holds it as private land.
A more advanced civilization existed before us and we were only placed here with a storybook history.
Reply to buster jones
Jim Lake
Typical Higgs government ‘passing the buck’ again … they take no responsibility and, as usual, never make anyone available for comment. They pretty much fail at most anything they touch.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Jim Lake
Yeah tourism NB knows exactly what they are doing. Same with the waterfalls they promote. Some of them are on private property, and have caused similar issues with trash, etc.
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman
True
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Need I say Higgy's Minister hates me?
Ronald Miller
Reply to Jim Lake
So now the gov't is responsible for what happens on private property (not managed by the province) and what tourists may or may not do on that property. Do you actually read the articles?
David Webb
Reply to Jim Lake
Didn't read/comprehend the article, right?
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Ronald Miller
How would you feel if the tourism department promoted your private property as a tourist destination?
Kyle Woodman
I'm glad they shut er down. It was getting out of control.
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman
The circus in NB has been out of control for over 50 years
Kyle Woodman
Reply to David Amos
I mean it is literally a circus at Waterside on a Saturday. People have no respect, just leaving garbage everywhere.
David Amos
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Have you been to Martin Head lately?
Kyle Woodman
Reply to David Amos
Not yet this year. Working on my truck.
Ronald Miller
Reply to Kyle Woodman
If any article shows up dealing with Martin Head then you will have spent a considerable amount of time there, noted.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Ronald Miller
I have spent a considerable amount of time there. It's my favorite place in NB.
Jim Lake
Reply to Kyle Woodman
So many New Brunswickers leave and throw garbage everywhere - roadsides, beaches, parks, trails and the bush … so many have so little respect for our beautiful province and its beautiful spaces.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Jim Lake
Crooked Creek is getting ruined too. Piles of garbage everywhere. Locals try to keep it clean but it just never stops.
Jack Bell
Reply to Jim Lake
"So many New Brunswickers leave and throw garbage everywhere"
Is it native New Brunswickers, or newcomers to the province?
In the last week I've seen 3 vehicles with out of province plates throw garbage out of their moving cars.
Robert McCormick
Reply to Jack Bell
No you didn’t..!
Jack Bell
Reply to Robert McCormick
yes, yes I did.
But I truly am sorry that my facts hurt your feelings.
Cathy Watson
Content Deactivated
Did you see that from your ditch, where you're protesting...something or other?
Jack Bell
Reply to Cathy Watson
If I was in the ditch, I'd be tripping over liberals recording tik toks of themselves crying over having to work 8 hours a week.
Daniel Henwell
It's not just the beaches that have no trash cans or washrooms. Ever drive down I-95 though the New England states? Every so often you see a rest area with toilets, trash cans, etc sometimes near a scenic lookout. You could drive one end of NB to the other and never see a pit stop like this. No wonder people chuck their trash out in the median or "do their business" in unusual places.
David Amos
Reply to Daniel Henwell
Who is in control of those Yankee rest areas?
jerry stephens
Reply to Daniel Henwell
Carry a trash bag with you when you travel and pack out what you bring in. This isn’t rocket science.
Ed Crocker
Reply to Daniel Henwell
There's never a good excuse for people to just toss their trash.
York Colonial
Reply to jerry stephens
Nope best to use reusable containers made from natural fibers. Anything else does more harm than good overall. If you block one end of a paper towel roll, it makes a perfect receptacle while on the road
mellor byfield
Reply to Daniel Henwell
Isn't that what Irving Big Stop's are for?
Lana MacLeod
Reply to Daniel Henwell
Strangely I lived my entire life on a private beach without any amenities and managed to not do either of those things.
David Webb
Reply to Daniel Henwell
You are trying to compare a national highway to a NB back road? There are a great many stopping locations on the TCH in NB, and they even have washroom and trash cans. The real issue is that many humans are disrespectful, AKA big oinkers.
David Amos
Reply to Daniel Henwell
BTW Its the US Army that controls the rest areas on I 95 and all the other Yankee Interstates
Bill White
All the best, you've got the wrong guys calling the shots there in N.B. and it shows.
David Amos
Reply to Bill White
Everybody knows Mr Outhouse has a problem
Mark Trealout
NB needs to invest in more outdoor education, along the lines of 'take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints'. This fella that has 'closed' 1 beach, however legal or not, won't change this kind of behaviour elsewhere. And washrooms, garbage cans, signage, infrastructure, etc, all demand money (ie taxes) to establish, and for long term upkeep.
Jim Lake
Reply to Mark Trealout
That would mean supporting both education and tourism and that is something the Higgs government has little, if any, interest in doing.
Mark Trealout
Reply to Jim Lake
you hit the nail on the head there. No support from the Higgs gov't, whether education, tourism, or willingness to pay someone to empty trash cans even, is the ultimate problem here.
York Colonial
Reply to Mark Trealout
All that's really needed for a washroom is some sort of catapult or air cannon pointed out to sea
David Amos
Reply to York Colonial
Are you having fun with your new name?
Alison Jackson
New headline: "Rich person from NYC buys beachfront property in NB and expects no one to be anywhere near it"
Bob Leeson
Reply to Alison Jackson
I'm not rich, but even I wouldn't enjoy people leaving "surprise piles" on my driveway. Am I too picky?
Horace Langley
Reply to Bob Leeson
People by and large are posterior orifices.
Art Rowe
Reply to Alison Jackson
Not exactly the context of the story. Did you read that he used to let people park on his property and cross his land to access the beach?
But as usual no good deed goes unpunished.
So many unthankful and disrespectful people around.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Leeson
Nope but the Yankee should have called the RCMP instead of CBC
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Alison Jackson
The guy from New York isn't the guy who shut down access. The ones who removed the parking area off their land are locals who have been there for a long time. The had the parking area set up as a courtesy for many many years, but it has been ruined by tourists.
buster jones
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Alisonis not a reader per se.
Lana MacLeod
Reply to Alison Jackson
You should read the article before manufacturing inaccurate headlines.
Eve Bergeron
Reply to Alison Jackson
Where does it say he is rich. He probably sold his house in New York, Got a great price and also American money is worth more then Canadian money then bought his home in NB
Richard LeBlanc
There needs to be a right of way to the beach established, and the province, or a group of volunteers, should maintain it.
David Amos
Reply to Richard LeBlanc
I agree
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Richard LeBlanc
There a1re public right of ways to the beach, they are just in really inconvenient places. You can see them on the property mapping.
Marc Andre
Reply to Kyle Woodman
I see no public right of way. I've seen old maps that show an old road that was used by a private company way back when they had provincial permission to quarry the beach. Not all roads on maps are public roads.
Kyle Woodman
Reply to Marc Andre
There are reserved roads on both the western and eastern ends of the beach. They are mapped but not developed, and aren't the most accessible, but they exist.
Mark Williams
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Thank you for making what you're saying more clear. If you could direct me to the resource that informs you the roads listed on the maps are public it would be appreciated. Nothing I have seen has lead me to believe the road is near the private property in the article.
John Montgomery
How can a person block public property?
lins bolan
Reply to John Montgomery
read the article it says how he blocked losers from his beach. stay off his property it is up to the gov. to put public access in.
Art Rowe
Reply to John Montgomery
The land they cross to get there is HIS!
John Montgomery
Reply to Art Rowe
So when he bought the house, did he not look into how people got to the beach in that area? I would be worried about how busy the beach gets and who may be using it.
Edward Hill
Reply to John Montgomery
Go back & read the article again. Hint: for years they parked on his property & used it to access the beach. Would you be ok with people walking through your yard, leaving garbage, tearing up dunes with 4WD…or would you prevent them from using your property?
Your last rebuttal is nonsense. If you purchased a home on the edge of a golf course, Niagara Falls, or Stanley Park…you think users of those areas don’t have to respect your home?
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
I have been blocked from the most important public properties of all since I ran in the election of the 38th Parliament in order to represent that area
Dwayne Allan
Reply to John Montgomery
Unless there was a right of way clause with his deed, he has no obligation to let people cross his property. Like the people who can't respect what they're abusing.
Lana MacLeod
Reply to David Amos
This isn't about you and your 1970's dreams.
David Amos
Reply to Lana MacLeod
So you say
Shawn Tabor
Good story. Bravo land owners. THC thats funny.
David Amos
Reply to Shawn Tabor
Its not funny at all
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