Lunenburg Part 2 - Section 5 - Social Vulnerability - August 30.pdf

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these services. 210 It also notes that transit is an integral component of sustainable growth, 211 and that “Communities across Canada with similar populations and service areas commit resources annually to provide public transportation to service their community.” 212 The study directly acknowledges the impact of the lack of public transportation service on socially vulnerable populations, and identifies a responsibility for the Municipality to respond to the need for this service. Summary Planning documents in the Municipality vary in the degree to which they recognize the challenges faced by socially vulnerable populations, and their commitment to addressing these challenges. While the Strategic Plan identifies a substantial need for affordable housing, it offers little in the way of solutions; the remaining planning documents generally include a statement about providing a variety of housing options, but do not link this to a responsibility to accommodate affordable housing in land use controls, or suggest the means to generate variety in housing options. Additionally, there is little or no recognition of the impacts of high property values, or land-use controls that limit density or establish minimum lot sizes and setbacks, on the availability of affordable housing, or the ability of communities to accommodate affordable housing options. While many of these planning documents address concerns about employment and the retention of youth in the Municipality, they offer few solutions to these problems, and generally focus on the need for higher levels of government to provide opportunities for education and training. Additionally, some of these plans emphasize economic development that may benefit the region as a whole, but fail to address the needs of individuals who are unemployed or earn a low income. The provision of community services is a theme throughout the planning documents examined. They tend to emphasize the role of community services in supporting community cohesion, and in improving quality of life. The needs of the District’s growing population of seniors are emphasized throughout; other socially vulnerable groups tend not to be identified. The lack of public transportation service is discussed in various planning documents. This area is one in which the disadvantage and inequity for residents who are unable to drive due to their youth, physical limitations, or lack of financial resources is explicitly discussed. While these planning documents generally emphasize the importance of public participation in planning processes, they tend not to discuss the issue of who is and is not participating, or the potential for residents with strong political voices to be over-represented, and the needs of populations with less social capital overlooked. Similarly, while ‘stakeholders’ are identified as important groups to include in public consultations, there are no criteria provided for determining who these stakeholders are. The use of the word ‘stakeholder,’ which derives from the spheres of business and finance, may indicate weight placed on the financial stake of interested parties in planning considerations. Overall, the planning documents reviewed recognize the need to accommodate change in the Municipality, for example by responding to the needs of an aging population, or by adapting to shifting economic conditions. On the other hand, many of the land-use planning provisions aim 210 Ibid., p. 2–3. 211 Ibid., p. 2. 212 Ibid., p. 12. 62
to maintain existing conditions and prevent change to the ‘character’ of communities. It may be challenging for the Municipality to reconcile these goals, especially if the needs of socially vulnerable populations are considered. Consultations The index of social vulnerability and assessment of potential impacts on services that socially vulnerable populations rely on provide a quantitative basis for understanding social vulnerability that is particularly useful for the purposes of justifying targeted funding for those areas in greatest need. The review of municipal planning policies illustrates the extent to which issues of social vulnerability are integrated into municipal practices. However, quantitative methods, especially regarding a phenomenon as complex and multi-faceted as social vulnerability, have significant limitations in that they may be unable to capture details, subtleties, and unique local phenomena; while municipal policies may not reflect all aspects of practice. The insight of community members with knowledge pertinent to issues of social vulnerability added depth and sensitivity to local conditions. Consultees for this study included representatives from the following organizations: municipal council; municipal planning departments; Public Health; the Luneburg Community Health Board; Second Story Women’s Centre; the Regional Emergency Management Organization; and local fire services. Physical Risk Consultees described increasingly frequent and violent storms and hurricanes. They identified a great deal of the coast as being at risk of storm surge inundation, and mentioned many locations where flooding has already occurred. These areas at risk include Indian Point, Oakland, Kingsburg, Hirtles Beach, Risser’s Beach, Crescent Beach and the LaHave Island, Green Bay, Broad Cove, Voglers Cove, Cherry Hill, and the Tancook Islands. Rainfall flooding causes elevated water levels in the LaHave River and its tributaries; consultees thought that some homes in Upper LaHave might be situated in a floodplain, and expressed concern about businesses and rental properties located directly on the LaHave River. Access is a significant concern for many areas, with frequent road closures during storms. Highly exposed roads exist in Western Shore, Martin’s Point, Chester, Blue Rocks, Broad Cove, Voglers Cove, Green Bay, Broad Cove, Crescent Beach and Cherry Hill. Green Bay has been cut off for as long as three days; because the area was impassable for emergency vehicles, a 4X4 has been used to evacuate a person requiring medical assistance. Consultees remarked that roads in the Blue Rocks area flood very frequently, with armour rocks pushed onshore by powerful wave action, making the road impassable. Concerns regarding road closures include the inability of residents to obtain food and other supplies or reach medical services, and of emergency services and home heating fuel trucks to reach residents. In the case of snowstorms, even when roads are passable, snow can cause difficulties and delays for emergency access to homes located down long driveways. While some consultees described few areas as having only one access route, others commented on the high proportion of private roads in the District; because private roads are not inspected, the Municipality might not be aware of all access problems. Other infrastructure-related concerns include electrical and ferry service. Highly exposed power lines along Crescent Beach leave residents of the LaHave Islands at risk of losing electrical power. Power outages are not unusual in the District; the loss of power is of particular concern during cold weather when residents rely on home heating, as well as due to the additional risk of 63
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Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutio
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And, thank you to the many resident
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The District’s extensive and irre
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OAKLAND 61 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FE
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Introduction Social vulnerability r
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and over time. This creates a justi
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also emphasize the need for detaile
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Data Interpretation: Analysis For e
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maps of equal or superior quality t
Page 19 and 20: person’s employment improves and
Page 21 and 22: as providing valid information. She
Page 23 and 24: communication and collective action
Page 25 and 26: alone are particularly vulnerable i
Page 27 and 28: marginalization, limiting their acc
Page 29 and 30: disability in the event of a natura
Page 31 and 32: The prevalence of low income is a p
Page 33 and 34: Field Observations Travelling throu
Page 35 and 36: Average results for Nova Scotia are
Page 37 and 38: Next, the results from Table 3 are
Page 39 and 40: Figure 4. Social Vulnerability in t
Page 41 and 42: Seniors are more likely than other
Page 43 and 44: Figure 5. Storm Surge Scenarios in
Page 45 and 46: The Petite Riviere Bridge Several b
Page 47 and 48: This may reflect the Very High prop
Page 49 and 50: Table 7. Areas Requiring Attention
Page 51 and 52: Table 9. Areas Requiring Attention
Page 53 and 54: The area’s relatively high popula
Page 55 and 56: A High proportion of residents are
Page 57 and 58: An Average level of residents are s
Page 59 and 60: pharmacies, for medical services. I
Page 61 and 62: Figure 7: Storm Surge Scenarios wit
Page 63 and 64: The Plan also addresses the need fo
Page 65 and 66: A related ICSP strategic goal is to
Page 67 and 68: While the Economic Development Stra
Page 69: Oakland The Oakland Secondary Plann
Page 73 and 74: patterns and potential dangers (“
Page 75 and 76: new residents, seasonal residents,
Page 77 and 78: vulnerabilities for individuals wit
Page 79 and 80: Two coastal dissemination areas hav
Page 81 and 82: about this program and use their kn
Page 83 and 84: Groome, P. (2010). Census Changes H
Page 85 and 86: Appendix A: Annotated Bibliography
Page 87 and 88: and analyzed using a Decision Tree
Page 89 and 90: Dolan, A.H., and I.J. Walker. “Un
Page 91 and 92: in health care or mitigating socioe
Page 93 and 94: Appendix B: Table of Indicators and
Page 95 and 96: No Secondary Education Adger et al.
Page 97 and 98: Appendix C: Maps of Profile by Indi
Page 99 and 100: Government Transfer Payments This s
Page 101 and 102: Children The District has a Below A
Page 103 and 104: Seniors Living Alone The District h
Page 105 and 106: No Secondary Education Social vulne
Page 107 and 108: dissemination areas where no reside
Page 109 and 110: Visible Minorities The District of
Page 111 and 112: Appendix D: Radar Diagrams for each
Page 113 and 114: 105
Page 115 and 116: DA 82 DA 83 Aboriginal Identity Vis
Page 117 and 118: DA 123 DA 124 Aboriginal Identity V
Page 119 and 120: DA 160 DA 161 Aboriginal Identity V
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Mahone Bay Food Bank Hospital, Long
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South Shore Big Brothers Big Sister
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Lunenburg Part 2 - Section 5 - Social Vulnerability - August 30.pdf

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