This could be one of our last chances to save Sandy Lake and the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes from development.
These two vital wild spaces contribute so much to a healthy city for people and nature – and if we don’t act now to save them, it might be too late. The Houston government has selected lands in these areas as Special Planning Areas (SPAs).
This means the province is forcing the HRM to ram through development that will cost taxpayers millions of dollars, increase traffic and threaten crucial ecosystems that help mitigate flooding and climate impacts, host diverse wildlife and provide access to loved recreation spaces for our communities. But we can still stop this.
Here’s how you can help save these spaces:
1. Attend the HRM Open Houses
The HRM is hosting two open house events for citizens to have their say about these developments – one for each of the areas. This is a critical time for us to show up to learn more about the proposed development plans for the areas and to voice your concerns about the impact development could have on our municipality.
Sandy Lake Open House – Wednesday, Nov. 12
Sandy Lake Open House
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025
Location: Bedford United Church, 1200 Bedford HWY, Bedford
Times:
- 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- 2 to 4 p.m.
- 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
BMBCL Open House – Wednesday, Nov. 19
BMBCL Open House
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025
Location: St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 3 Dakin Dr., Halifax
Times:
- 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- 2 to 4 p.m.
- 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Helpful Information & Specific Issues
Helpful Information & Specific Issues
At the open houses, our community can bring up their concerns about these developments and the threats they pose. We all have our own reasons for wanting to protect nature, and we need to make them heard. Below are a few additional points you can consider:
- Provincial overreach. Remove both sights from the provincial Special Planning Area list.
- Lack of necessary environmental impact and traffic studies. To date, the studies that have been completed have:
a. Omitted key environmental data, and failed to examine new road proposals.
b. Failed to consider these developments will impact surrounding neighbourhoods – potentially increasing their vulnerability to flooding. - Not listen to experts. Planning decisions must include research from local experts, such as ecologists and biologists, who have studied these areas.
- Increasing the burden on taxpayers. The infrastructure costs for putting in and then maintaining roads and services at these unserviced “greenfield” sites are astronomical. This is how sprawl costs us all.
Nova Scotia needs more affordable housing, but this can be done within the urban service boundary, without destroying our natural and recreation spaces or jacking up our tax bills.
2. Attend the EAC and Our HRM Alliance Webinar – Nov. 9 or 10
Join the EAC and Our HRM Alliance for a free informational webinar to help you understand the threat these developments pose. You’ll hear from people actively working to protect these areas and gain insights you can use to provide feedback at the HRM open house events.
- Sunday, Nov. 9, 4 - 5 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 10, 7 - 8 p.m.
Note: both webinars will cover the same information. There is no need to register for both!
3. Share Your Opinions with Your Provincial Elected Officials
Learn More
The Province is the one truly holding the decision-making power here, specifically the Task Force on Housing in HRM and the Minister of Housing. Even though the HRM is hosting the open houses, the Province will make the final decisions about development. To be most impactful, you can share your opinions with your provincial MLA to show them you know who this is all being controlled by. Look up your MLA here.
Note: Be sure to copy the Minister of Growth and Development, Colton LeBlanc, and the office of the Housing Task Force (housingtaskforce@novascotia.ca), who hold the decision-making power in the Special Planning Area process and the fate of our beloved green spaces.
4. Support the Coalitions
Learn More
The Sandy Lake-Sackville River Regional Park Coalition and Friends of Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes are two volunteer-based coalitions working to steward and advocate for the well-being of these ecosystems and their surrounding communities. Signing up for their newsletters and following them on social media helps keep you in the know on critical updates, calls to action, community events and more. Check out the Sandy Lake-Sackville River Regional Park Coalition and Friends of Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes websites and newsletters.