Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

Nelson Sergerie
PERCÉ – The staircase at the end of Biard Street in Percé, which allowed tourists to descend to Anse du Nord beach, is no longer accessible.

The infrastructure will not be rebuilt after falling victim to coastal erosion.
The town had to intervene every fall. “It wasn’t working anymore,” says the Mayor or Percé Daniel Leboeuf.

Resident Lise Bourget is asking the town to at least take action to make the area more welcoming.
“Last year, they decided not to replace it, but they could remove the remains of the facilities, I think. It’s really ugly for tourists who come to admire the Rock, and it seems very dangerous to me because people still go down there,” she explains.

The town is working on a new concept

“The plan is to install an observation platform. Tourists will still be able to see Anse du Nord. Given the erosion that is occurring, it is not feasible to rebuild a staircase in the short term,” explains the mayor.

There had been plans to install an aluminum structure for the descent that would have better withstood the onslaught of the sea.

“The slope is too eroded. We will not invest tens of thousands of dollars until it is safe,” saYS Mr. Leboeuf.

Such infrastructure could be reinstated if the Department of Public Safety intervenes to protect the area, as the town has been requesting for several years.

“We’ll see. Our request for protective work for the entire Anse du Nord is still pending with the Department of Public Safety. A project has been submitted. Studies are still being conducted. We hope that this part of the village will be protected,” says the mayor.

The request is being made under the disaster prevention program. The protection of Anse du Nord is an important issue: nearly 20 homes and businesses in this area are vulnerable. There is also the fire station and the town’s filtration plant at the end of the cove. If there were to be too much damage on this side, it would jeopardize the safety of the town.