They were doing work on the sewage plant at one point. Or maybe it's an old sign for the bridge work. Not sure.
As far as the movie set is concerned it was either a Brad Pitt movie or they used it for the set on the AMC series Hell on Wheels.
You've grossly mis-read the article. "illegal for anyone to wear a disguise to commit an indictable offence" I.E. riotting. If you're protesting with a mask it'll never hold up in court.
The wind really gets up on that lake too. I had waves crashing over the back of my lund. My 55lb couldn't get my going anywhere in the wind. Thankfully i had the 15hp.