NANTICOKE—The Department of National Defence (DND) has expressed interest in acquiring or leasing an unoccupied property on the shores of Lake Erie in Nanticoke.
An ad that ran in last week’s Press listed potential areas of interest including New Lakeshore Road, South Coast Drive, Blue Water Parkway, and Lakeshore Road.
Craig Macartney, Communications Advisor for DND, shared, “The advertisement is an expression of interest seeking vacant land in the Nanticoke area that may be suitable for the Department of National Defence to purchase or lease. The property would be evaluated against specific operational and technical requirements.”
The reason why the DND is considering the site?
“For radar receiver equipment and infrastructure,” said Macartney. “The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) operates similar equipment at locations across Canada, and this project would establish new capabilities in this location.”
He further explained, “The CCG operates numerous radar sites 24/7/365. These radar systems help marine traffic safely navigate through Canadian waters. This is about increasing safety, reducing the risk of incidents on the water, and protecting our marine environment.”
He said the ideal property would meet a set of criteria outlined in the department’s expression of interest, shared with The Press.
Among the criteria, Macartney listed “being vacant, located on or near the Lake Erie shoreline, being large enough to accommodate the infrastructure, providing a clear line of sight for radar operations, being accessible all year, and having access to electrical services.”
The department lists a minimum lot size of 0.22 acres in its expression of interest. It states the property’s owner must be willing to remove trees or other obstructions potentially blocking sight lines. It lists the height of the radio tower at 120 feet.
It also states the property must be accessible with no constraints, listed as easements, rights-of-way, flood zones, wetlands, contaminants, soil movement zones, and “should not restrict the use or construction of the proposed property.”
According to Macartney, the DND identified the area around the Nanticoke shoreline as potentially meeting the project’s operational and technical requirements.
“National Defence included the roads that the advertisement references to help identify the general geographic area for suitable properties,” he said.
Asked how the department’s use of the property might impact access to the land or surrounding area, Macartney said that with no property yet selected, it would be too early to speculate. He added, “National Defence would assess any property under consideration through the appropriate due diligence, planning, and regulatory processes.”
Those interested in submitting their land for review can email heather.hannigan@dfo-mpo.gc.ca with the address of the property or lot number, name of the representative who owns it, and a contact phone number and email address. All expressions of interest must be submitted by 4 p.m. on December 1, 2026 to be considered.
