The mayor of Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove says he has endured many sleepless nights with the 60-year-old breakwater, which protects it from the ravages of the sea, in its last years.

The federal government has allocated $8-million for a new barrier to be made of armourstone. The existing wall, constructed of timber, will remain in place even after the new breakwater is built, a process which could take years.

Even though the town is in the St. John’s metro region, Mayor Ed Dyke says they are reliant on the fishery and without a new structure to keep out storm surge, there would be no fishery.

He would get up every morning at daybreak during storms and hurricanes to see if it was still there.

Reg Best of the local harbour authority says much of the key infrastructure of the town such as the fish plant and mini aquarium, encircle the harbour. The existing breakwater could not hold back the water last January.

“A lot of damage was done to the fish plant, the twine sheds, floating docks were being moved and the sea was continuously coming in over the breakwater,” says Best.