The Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR) has announced plans to repair and upgrade amenities at Carters Beach in Port Mouton, a popular beach destination in Queens County, Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia government has allocated $10.2 million for major work on provincial park assets, and some of that funding will be used for improvements at Carters Beach.

The planned upgrades include the construction of a parking lot, signage, a vault toilet (a basic non-flush outhouse facility), and a new beach access path. These improvements aim to support the conservation of the area’s natural and cultural values while managing public access for low-impact nature-based recreation. Construction is scheduled to begin towards the end of the current season.

The specific details of the parking scheme and other improvements are still being finalized. The goal is to provide sustainable access to the beach while protecting the dunes and ensuring visitor safety. Some existing signage will be replaced, and additional interpretive and wayfinding signage will be installed to guide people to the beach and amenities.

Currently, there is a porta potty on site, but it will be replaced by the vault toilet once it is built. The DNRR aims to manage the increasing use of Carters Beach by providing basic infrastructure for visitors.

Carters Beach, which spans dozens of hectares, attracts hundreds of visitors during long weekends in the summer. Due to the high volume of parked vehicles along Carters Beach Road, parking restrictions have been implemented, allowing parking on only one side of the road. The main beach parking lot can accommodate only around a dozen vehicles.

The DNRR hosted a public meeting last year to address management and concerns regarding Carters Beach. Issues discussed included vehicular traffic, availability of washrooms, and habitat conservation. The majority of provincial day-use and camping parks opened for the season on the Victoria Day weekend.