News & Events

News release: News release: Municipality Giving Away 1,000 Trees to Residents

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Published: Thursday, 29 August 2024 09:57

The Municipality is giving away 1,000 trees to MODL residents in September to create a greener community. This initiative is part of the Local Climate Change Action Plan 2030 (LCCAP 2030), which aims to plant 10,000 trees by the end of the decade. All MODL residents are invited to participate, with a limit of four trees per household, on a first-come, first-served basis.

“By prioritizing the planting of 1,000 trees in 2024, the Municipality is making strides toward its long-term environmental goals,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “This event not only helps expand our green canopy but also empowers residents to take an active role in conservation efforts. Planting trees is a significant way to combat climate change and enhance the overall well-being of our community. Trees improve air quality, boost biodiversity, and enhance the beauty of our local environment.”

Location: Municipal Activity and Recreation Complex (MARC), 33 Leary Fraser Road, Dayspring.
Date: September 14, 10am - 1pm
Rain Date: September 15, 10am - 1pm

Please visit engage.modl.ca/treegiveaway for more information.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: MODL to Construct New Playground at MARC Ballfield

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Published: Tuesday, 23 July 2024 09:12

July 23, 2024 / For Immediate Release

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – MODL is pleased to announce that the Sport Park (ballfield) at the Municipal Activity Recreation Complex (MARC) will be getting a new playground before the end of the summer.

As part of our continuing efforts to improve our parks, in the summer/fall 2023, MODL conducted safety inspections at six locations. The inspection of the MARC ballfield playground structure revealed several safety issues and removal was required. The playground structure was removed in the fall of 2023.

At the June 18, 2024, Special Council meeting, Council approved a replacement playground with accessible features, at a cost of $97,734 plus HST.

"We heard from community members about how important this infrastructure is to their enjoyment of the ballfields, and we’re pleased to be able to come up with a solution for this year," said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. "This decision reflects our commitment to providing safe and enjoyable recreational spaces for our community while responsibly managing our resources. We believe that investing in our parks and recreational facilities is essential for the well-being and quality of life of our residents.”

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: Council Passes New Coastal Protection Regulations

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Published: Tuesday, 18 June 2024 15:57

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – In April of 2023, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) began developing new land use regulations that would impact how development occurs along our coast.

Since this time, MODL Council and staff have engaged with the community and experts to shape these regulations. The regulations are intended to protect development on the coast from the effects of climate change and to protect the coast from human development by addressing concerns such as coastal erosion, flooding, and the preservation of sensitive ecosystems.

At a Special Council meeting on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, Council passed the Second Reading to amend MODL’s Municipal Planning Strategy and introduce a revised Municipal Planning Strategy and a new Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law that includes coastal protection regulations. These regulations are now in effect.

"Today marks a significant step forward in safeguarding our coastal communities for future generations," said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. "These new coastal regulations reflect our commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change and ensuring that our coastlines remain resilient and protected. We have worked closely with our residents and experts to develop these regulations, and their input has been invaluable in shaping a sustainable future for the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg."

Information about this project, including the new Land Use By-law, can be found at engage.modl.ca/coastal-protection. pdf A backgrounder with highlights of important changes is attached (516 KB) .

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(902) 541-1328

News release: Municipality Awards Annual Grant Funding

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Published: Tuesday, 28 May 2024 16:05

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – Each year, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg offers an Annual Operating and Major Recreation Capital Grant program to its non-profit groups to support the many volunteers and volunteer groups that make our communities better places to live, work and play.

This year, under the 2024-2025 Annual Operating Grant Program, the Municipality awarded $80,064 to 48 organizations. Under the Major Recreation Capital Grant Program, the Municipality awarded $67,861 to 14 organizations, enabling them to undertake transformative projects that will promote a more vibrant community. Council also awarded $2,545 to Lunenburg Ground Search & Rescue from the Council Contingency budget.

"The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg showcases its steadfast dedication to community well-being and vitality through the Annual Operating and Major Recreation Capital Grant program," says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. "These funding initiatives reflect our deep gratitude for the numerous volunteers and volunteer groups who tirelessly contribute to the prosperity of our communities. By offering essential funding, we enable these organizations to enrich the lives of our residents and foster environments where people can live, work, and play."

Municipal staff will be reaching out to community groups shortly to update them on their grant applications.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(902) 541-1328

News release: Wastewater, Sidewalk Upgrades for Lunenburg County

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Published: Tuesday, 30 April 2024 12:22

Please see the news release from the province of Nova Scotia: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/04/30/wastewater-sidewalk-upgrades-lunenburg-county

News release: Property Tax Rebate Increased Significantly

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Published: Tuesday, 16 April 2024 15:47

To help make life more affordable for homeowners that are struggling financially, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg has significantly expanded the Property Tax Rebate program.

The Property Tax Rebate Program is one of the ways that Council supports lower-income homeowners by granting a property tax rebate based on total household income. With the passing of the 2024/2025 municipal budget on April 9, 2024, Council revised the program significantly. Homeowners with household incomes under $51,840 are eligible to receive a rebate of up to $650. This represents a 14% increase over the 2023 amounts. In the 2023/24 tax year, 730 homeowners received the property tax rebate.

“We recognize that this is a very difficult environment for lower-income property owners,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “The Property Tax Rebate is one of the many ways the Municipality supports our residents encountering financial difficulties. Increasing the rebate amounts and thresholds will result in an estimated return of $753,400 to the residents who need the relief the most.”

Qualified applicants will see the rebate on their final property tax bill for the year. Applicants need to apply every year. Proof of income is required. Updated application forms are available at modl.ca/property-tax-exemptions.html. Applications are due by August 1; however, the Municipality will accept applications all year if funding permits.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: Municipality Passes 2024-25 Budget

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Published: Tuesday, 09 April 2024 19:26

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg approved the 2024-25 operating and capital budgets at the Tuesday, April 9 Council meeting.

“We recognize that this is a very difficult environment for lower-income property owners,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “Council significantly increased the Property Tax Rebate and expect many more homeowners to benefit from this rebate than in previous years. Increasing the rebate amounts and thresholds will result in an estimated return of $753,400 to the residents who need the relief the most.”

The Municipality approved its annual operating budget of $44,691,400 with a $27,000 surplus. The capital budget and Canada Community-Building Fund investment totals $11,595,536. This budget continues the Municipality’s track record of strong financial management, while continuing to meet the needs of residents.

“The commercial and residential tax rate remains unchanged in this budget for the 14^th year in a row,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “Council has a 5-year financial strategy that guides our budgeting decisions. This strategy continues to allow us to make significant capital investments in our four major areas of priority: Osprey Village Growth Centre, improving our current parks and open spaces, executing on our Climate Change Action Plan, and developing a comprehensive Municipal Planning Strategy.”

Major Capital Investment Summary by Category

Read the pdf Budget Highlights (152 KB) .

Watch the Budget meeting on YouTube.

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Media contact:

Elana Wentzell, CPA CMA

Director of Finance and Municipal Treasurer

Municipality of the District of Lunenburg

(902) 541-1322 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

News release: Municipality Invites Residents to Shape the Future of Sawpit Wharf Park

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Published: Thursday, 04 April 2024 09:32

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg invites residents to contribute to the future vision of Sawpit Wharf Park.

Sawpit Wharf Park stands as a cornerstone of our community, offering a picturesque waterfront with amenities including a floating wharf, boat launch, parking area, day use area, and green space. Since its inception, the park has evolved to meet the needs of residents, with expansions and enhancements guided by the Sawpit Wharf Advisory Committee.

In 2007, a concept plan laid out a vision for Sawpit Wharf Park's future, proposing new features such as walking trails and an expanded parking area. Many of these features have been incorporated in the park’s design. Now, the Municipality is embarking on a new phase of development, one that places community input at its core.

Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson shared her enthusiasm for this collaborative effort, stating, "Sawpit Wharf Park is an important community asset, and resident input is invaluable in shaping its future. We are committed to ensuring it continues to serve as a vibrant gathering place for generations to come and invite residents to join us to share their experiences and wishes for Sawpit Wharf Park."

Residents are invited to complete a survey online or attend a presentation and workshop on April 23. To complete the survey and learn more about the upcoming workshop, please visit engage.modl.ca/sawpitwharfpark.
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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(902) 541-1328

News release: Council Declines to Award Pickleball Court Tender

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Published: Wednesday, 13 March 2024 13:40

For the past few years, Council has been working towards the creation of a dedicated, accessible Pickleball Court facility in MODL. In the 2023-2024 Capital Budget, we included $800,000 for six accessible Pickleball Courts.

Over the past year, Council went through a site selection process and Municipal Staff worked with the local Pickleball Community and the Design Consultants in the preparation of the tender document. In order to ensure that we were ready for the beginning of the spring construction season, the tender document was issued on December 20, 2023, and closed on February 29, 2024.

At the Council meeting on March 12, 2024, Council reviewed two tenders that were submitted for the construction of six accessible Pickleball Courts. The submitted bids came in at $1.45 million and $1.8 million; both well in excess of the $800,000 budgeted for the project. As the tendered costs far exceeded the capital budget, Council has decided not to award the tender.

“I am disappointed that we were not able to secure bids closer to the budgeted amount. Council was not prepared to award the project at a cost of more than $600,000 over the budget,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “We will be meeting with representatives of the Pickleball Community to explore options and funding partners that would enable us to move forward with an outdoor pickleball facility in the Municipality and I will be recommending that an $800,000 operating reserve be set up so that funds are available for the project when needed.”

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(902) 541-1328

News release: New Parasport Equipment Coming to the Municipality

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Published: Tuesday, 12 March 2024 16:08

The Municipality is thrilled to announce we have received an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) grant from Sport Nova Scotia in the amount of $45,548.79.

This funding is designed to help strengthen, sustain, grow, or improve unique community sport programs across Nova Scotia, especially traditionally underrepresented communities. MODL will be using the funding to purchase six wheelchairs to use for parasport programming, such as wheelchair basketball, as well as an enclosed trailer to transport and store equipment.

“This equipment will help us create affordable opportunities for persons with disabilities to access programming, feel a sense of belonging, and develop their skills,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “This programming will allow us to create awareness of parasport opportunities, showcase athletes in our community, and build strong partnerships with our community.”

“This grant is a major stepping stone towards expanding Parasport offerings in the South Shore region,” says Sport Nova Scotia’s, Zachary Dickson. “After a series of successful Wheelchair Basketball events through our Parasport Equipment Loan Program, I am excited for more permanent and sustainable programming to continue in MODL. This initiative will complement the strong Parasport programs already existing in the area, and further enable inclusive and accessible sport opportunities locally!”

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(902) 541-1328