Town responds to environmental concerns from Wasaga Beach land transfer

With the beaches under its jurisdiction, the town will have more control over its redevelopment.

As Wasaga Beach continues its rebirth as a top tourism destination, the town will have more control in the redevelopment process but will also have to address concerns raised by local environmentalists.

Last Tuesday, the Ontario government passed legislation to change Beach Area 1, Beach Area 2, New Wasaga and Allenwood Beach from provincial land to municipal land.

“What we’ve learned from the last 50 years is that having this area in the province’s hands quite frankly hasn’t worked,” said Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith. “(This is) the first time in 50 years that the people in Wasaga Beach are going to have a say in what our future looks like.”

The transfer has been in the making since Premier Doug Ford announced $38 million last spring to help the town transform itself into ‘Destination Wasaga’.

The province highlighted the town’s commitment for increased tourism and investment.

The change will also put the Nancy Island Historic Site under the Historic Parks Act, a transfer totalling more than seven acres.

For local businesses, the Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce and Tourism reports some growing pains but a mostly positive outlook.

“We need that property to expand our community and going forward it’s going to be an excellent opportunity for Wasaga Beach,” said Karin Greig, the chamber’s president.

However, a consultation by the province on the transfer yielded 98 per cent opposition from more than 14,000 comments.

The town’s conservation resources were a main concern that was raised.

“They don’t have the ecologists and expertise that Ontario Parks has,” said Kathleen Caswell, president of the Wasaga Beach Climate Action Team. “When the spring comes, we’re going to need to work with them and make sure protections are put in place, especially for the piping plover.”

Mayor Smith responded with reassurance.

“We’ll ensure that as we go through that we work with those experts like the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority,” said Mayor Smith. “We’ve talked to Birds Canada. We’ll have more conversations with those folks, and we’ll make sure that we’re doing what is right and what is best.”

The town is planning to hold a community engagement meeting in March where residents can further share their concerns and get a glimpse at the town’s progress.