It was standing room only in the Helen Creighton Room at Alderney Landing Wednesday night for a meeting on the Dartmouth Cove infilling.

More than 150 residents were there, and some even turned away, to talk about the controversial topic.

Jill Brogan from Friends of Dartmouth Cove tells us they gathered to “spur people on in a united front” while they band together to protect the ocean space.

“People I believe were reassured that it is not too late, we must continue the fight.”

Brogan says they had a presentation on who community members can talk to and write to, to prevent the project from happening.

She adds that the majority of people who would enjoy the waterfront are highly opposed to the infilling and are encouraged by the support they are receiving.

“We are going to continue to push to protect the cove, it is the right thing to do, and we are hopeful that the powers at be… will continue to do what is right.”

Brogan says they do plan on having a walking meeting about the topic, likely in July.

The infilling

Local construction company Atlantic Road Construction and Paving wants to dump pyritic slate into the cove as early as September if they get federal approval.

CFO Bruce Wood told our newsroom that the due to an abundance of construction happening in the city they need somewhere to dump the slate.

It is acidic, so Wood says, the harbour is the best place for it.

Transport Canada has already given the green light, but they are now waiting on the Department of Oceans and Fisheries to solidify a permit.