Beach conflict - Don't put condos near park: residents

Don't put condos near park: residents


The possibility of stores and condo units near Innisfil Beach Park created contention Tuesday at a public information session about the reconstruction of Innisfil Beach Road (IBR).

Several residents wanted do to know if mixed-use/residential zoning would apply to the south side of IBR, running east of the 25th Sideroad to the Lake Simcoe.

Held at Town Hall, the session was staged to allow the public to examine possible landscaping designs for the entire length of IBR from the 20th Sideroad east to Lake Simcoe, said Tammy Kalimootoo of consulting firm Ainley and Associates. The second portion was to discuss the municipal class environmental assessment process needed for the project to be completed.

“One of the biggest things is to get public comment today,” Kalimootoo said. “It’s a $30 million project and everything is subject to council approval.”

But it was the possibility of the commercial condominium project that created the most concern.

While not on any drawing boards at the session, homeowners who live near the entrance to Innisfil Beach Park wanted to know the status of four-storey buildings to be constructed facing the park. These buildings would contain businesses on the ground floor.

Mayor Brian Jackson assured some residents that the land, which now contains older cottage-style homes, has not be rezoned.

Herb Dietrich of Crystal Beach Road, just north of the park, said, “I’ve been visiting the park for more than 50 years. I think it’s a very real threat. The park is 75 acres and very unique. Commercial stores with condos above would lead to a Wasaga Beach thing. We don’t want that across from the park. I think most residents feel that way.”

“I don’t want to see stores down by the park,” Deputy Mayor Gord Wauchope said to Dietrich and several onlookers. “I would rather see residential.”
“I feel much better hearing that,” Dietrich replied.

Sharon Stewart of Lakelands Avenue said, “I love the park. I don’t want commercial. I don’t want condominiums or town homes, just single family residential. It would be good if someone came along and rebuilt with a nautical look.”

Stewart said she had attended a September meeting at Town Hall where four-storey buildings were proposed, “and bars and maybe metered parking,” she added.

Her husband, Tom, said, “The Town takes $20 or $25 from non-residents to use the park and then it’s full and Innisfil residents can’t get in. Their main concern is to fill the park and make money. We’re the ones who paid taxes for the park.”

Mayor Jackson said any zoning for the area hasn’t come before council yet.
“It’s completely separate from the roadwork,” Jackson said. “There’s been some talk about commercial development from the park to the 25th. If there’s any change in zoning, it will come before council. It’s not on the immediate radar. We need to review, and assess, how we’ll do that.”

Local realtor Igor Vujovic, who is also represents the Alcona Business Association (ABA) on a town committee that drafted plans for IBR, said the ABA “supports the Town in improving the downtown core which will improve the livelihood of businesses. We also support a balance between residential and commercial development.”
Vujovic noted that as a realtor, “The value of these properties will increase, and the residents of Crystal Beach Road, and Lakelands and Adams Road will benefit. I share the concerns of the homeowners and they have to be addressed.”
However, he added, “The downtown was visioned to bring people down to the lake and it will bring more traffic. The reality is the town is changing.”

Schools, residents, town all win environmental awards

Schools, residents, town all win environmental awards

Georgina residents of all ages were honoured for understanding, appreciating and protecting the environment at this year's annual Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority's Conservation Awards.
Lakeside Public School in Keswick received the Water Conservation Award, Peter and Katherine Smith earned the Soil Conservation Award, Lake Simcoe Public School received the Education Award and nature artist Paul Harpley garnered the George R. Richardsaon Award of Honour.

The Town of Georgina also won a water conservation award.

Victoria Pegg and her Grade 6 class at Lakeside Public school worked with authority staff on a buffer, creating a 15-metre strip of willow and dogwood cuttings, as well as native plants in the creek by the school. the buffer will to help prevent sediment, unfiltered runoff, oil and other contaminants from getting into the creek.

"It's something most of them walk by every day, so they took a vested interested in it. Text books are good but hands-on experience is always fabulous and it's making a difference in their community so it added an element of pride," Ms Pegg said.

Many students visited the site daily when going to or coming from school to monitor the progress of their project.

They weren't the only school in town putting their greenest foot forward.

Over the 2008-2009 school year, staff and students at Lake Simcoe Public School took on several greening projects around the school.

They formed an Eco-Team, including staff, students and parent council members, which empowered the school to participate in the many initiatives they developed, including adopting a Peregrine Falcon, picking up garbage in the school and surrounding community properties, energy conservation initiatives, a litterless lunch program and awards for the classes, which produced the least amount of garbage and recycled the most.

Their efforts of the now Silver EcoSchools certified Lake Simcoe Public didn't stop there.

The Grade 8 students worked in partnership with the adopt-a-stream program to plant close to 300 trees along the Amber Creek, which flows near the school and into Lake Simcoe.

Branching out on the idea of tree planting, Peter and Katherine Smith had 3,600 conifer seedlings planted on their property since spring of 2003 when the Smiths first had 1.5 acres of their property planted by the conservation authority.

In 2008, they retired another 1.8 acres of their land for tree planting, which finished in the spring of 2009, when they had another 1.75 acres of land planted with trees.

"This significant amount of planting contributes to improved water quality and helps prevent soil erosion," Dana Eldon, community relations specialist for the conservation authority, said.

Georgina's Mr. Harpley received the authority's top award, the George R. Richardson Award of Honour for his lifetime of work as a conservationist and wildlife and environmental researcher.

Also a well-known painter, Mr. Harpley has worked with the Zephyr Society of Lake Simcoe, the South Lake Simcoe Naturalists and the Toronto Zoo where he is involved in planning and design of award-winning projects as the manager of interpretation, culture and design.

For more information on the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and to find out how you can become a watershed hero, visit www.lsrca.on.ca or call 905-895-1281.

LSRCA wins Thiess prize - “Nobel Prize” of Environmentalism!

LSRCA wins Thiess prize

For the second time in 3 years, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority was a finalist for the International Thiess Riverprize – called the “Nobel Prize” of Environmentalism. This time, the LSRCA won the award, at a symposium held in Brisbane, Australia earlier this week.

The Thiess Riverprize recognizes organizations that are engaged in Best Practices in watershed management, and is awarded to a project that represents the world’s best effort to conserve natural watershed resources for future generations. It includes a cash prize of $350,000 Australian.

The LSRCA was one of 5 finalists for the 2009 prize, for its work on sustainability and an integrated watershed management program for Lake Simcoe.

“We are very proud to be honoured with this international distinction. From an environmental point of view, this is the biggest, most prestigious award in the world,” said Gayle Wood, CAO of the Conservation Authority.

Youthful duo reels in $25,000, bragging rights at derby

Youthful duo reels in $25,000, bragging rights at derby

With the 2009 Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open trophy and $25,000 grand prize close enough to touch, Barry Graves and Jason Gough were nervous as one more team still had to weigh in their catch.

"That's a big fish," said Graves of Keswick, as the last team held their fish up to audience cheers.

The fish wasn't big enough as the last team's fish weighed in under the winners' 29-pounds of five smallmouth bass, allowing the young team to take the grand prize, beating out professional and celebrity anglers from Canada and the U. S.

"It's incredible," Graves said, as fishermen walked up to shake hands. "It's a huge tournament."

Dave Mercer of Facts of Fishing was the tournament master of ceremonies and well-known fisherman Bob Izumi from the Real Fishing Show competed.

The annual one-day tournament on Saturday held its weigh-in at the Port of Orillia for the first time this year. The tournament kicked off at 8 a. m. with 100 teams of two, with the weigh-in beginning at 3 p. m.

Many of the fishermen had difficulty on lakes Simcoe and Couchiching with more than half coming in under the five-fish limit.

"The wind was coming about 20 knots out of the south; it's been a tough day on the water," said George Wallace, Canadian market manager with Bass Pro Shops.

"The weather is typical for this time of year. Mother Nature certainly comes into play. Half the field will come in without any fish; it's a real challenge."

Graves and Gough, of Toronto, said the trick was pre-fishing to pick good locations and staying out of the wind.

"We spent about seven days out on the water pre-fishing," said Graves. "We were scouting and trying to find spots where the fish are," Graves said. "It was really windy out and the spots we picked were on the side of the lake where you didn't get as much wind."

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Bass Pro Shops hopes to keep the tournament weigh-in at the Port of Orillia in hopes of turning the event into "Canada's premier one-day fishing tournament." In the past it was held at Sibbald Point Provincial Park on the south end of Lake Simcoe.

"It's closer to a bigger population base, larger media centre and certainly an opportunity to deal with bigger businesses," Wallace said. "We're looking to the community to help us build this event into an internationally renowned bass tournament ; it has the potential."

Fish mortality is an important aspect of the catch and release event. The tournament works in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Queen's University doctors to ensure fish health and well-being, Wallace said.

"We are firm believers in providing a research element to what this tournament is all about," he said.

Orillia Perch Festival organizer Doug Bunker, who co-ordinated the event, said the event, from the city's perspecitve, is a huge benefit to the local economy.

"It's great for the town; it's quiet this time of year and they have been here all week pre-fishing, trying to find out where the fish are," he said. "It's great for the economy, they have been staying in hotels for a week and bringing lots of people into the city."

Shore up waterfront -naturally

Shore up waterfront -naturally

You can make crucial piece of waterway habitat a much better place
Shorelines are one of nature's most biologically diverse habitats, because they are the meeting place of both land and water communities. A healthy, natural shoreline is most often characterized by an area of native flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees extending back from the water's edge. Fallen trees, logs, rocks, and aquatic plants are usually present both along the shore itself and below the water line.

Healthy shorelines provide wildlife with food, nursery areas, travel corridors, perching and sunning sites, as well as protection from weather and predators. In fact, more than 90 per cent of life in a lake begins along the shore. Walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, yellow perch, sunfish, and various minnows, spend most of their life-cycle in or near shorelines. Vegetation, large rocks, and even fallen trees provide food, cover and nesting habitat for many fish species. Rock and gravel bottoms are important spawning areas for walleye, a declining species in the Kawarthas, and for forage species such as suckers, darters and some minnows.

Ospreys, bald eagles, and kingfishers hunt for fish from dead shoreline trees. Spotted sandpipers feed on the abundant insects that hatch along the water's edge. Ducks eat the nutritious roots and tubers of emergent wetland plants. Mink, too, travel and forage here.

Shorelines also provide breeding and nesting areas, food sources, shelter and hibernation sites for amphibians and reptiles. Turtles use fallen logs as sunning areas. Vegetation and woody debris in the water afford habitat for aquatic organisms on which turtles feed. Reptiles and amphibians are, in turn, food for larger carnivores such as great blue herons.

Insects, too, rely on shorelines. They, in turn, constitute an essential food source for dozens of species of birds. A well-vegetated shoreline is also attractive to dragonflies which are one of the main natural predators of mosquitoes. Nectar-producing shoreline plants like swamp milkweed and Joe-pye-weed are a magnet to monarch butterflies.

There are more direct benefits to landowners, as well. A low-maintenance natural shoreline means less time spent on yard care. Shoreline vegetation catches rainwater runoff and absorbs any pollutants the water may carry. It's also a first line of defense against erosion and will stop Canada geese from coming up onto the property. In addition, natural shorelines don't need fertilizing. Nutrients from lawn fertilizers are a significant cause of algal blooms and can increase nuisance aquatic plants. In all these ways, natural shorelines contribute to water quality.

However, certain types of human activities along much of the Trent-Severn are seriously degrading natural shorelines. Many people simply don't understand how harmful their actions can be. Many are carried out in an effort to make the shoreline look clean and tidy, just like the yard back home in the city. In the process, however, much of what people are coming up to the cottage to enjoy -clean water, the pleasure of nature, and recreational opportunities such as fishing - is being destroyed. Shoreline alterations remove food and shelter for wildlife, degrade spawning beds for fish, decrease water quality, increase runoff and excess nutrients, warm the water, and encourage growth of algae.

Some of the more problematic behaviours include:

* Dumping sand along the shoreline and thereby covering up good rock rubble habitat.

* Dredging or picking out old stumps and rocks.



* Hardening the shoreline by erecting concrete or armour stone walls. The fact that the walls might use local, "natural" stone is not a rationalization that makes any sense ecologically. Large sections of shorelines throughout the Kawarthas have seen their natural habitat value destroyed by the construction of these walls. The only time a wall may be justifiable is in situations such as anchoring a dock. A permit is required to build these walls.

* Using aquatic herbicides to get rid of weeds around the dock. This practice can be a health hazard if not done correctly,

since some cottagers take their drinking water from the same area where herbicides are being applied. Unfortunately, people often forget the essential link between ecosystem health, community health and individual health. Herbicides can also drift to other areas of the shoreline and affect natural communities adversely.

* Extending the lawn all the way down to the waterfront and applying fertilizer.

* Planting invasive, non-native trees such as Norway maple and Scot's pine.

If your shoreline has been degraded, it is possible to restore it to a healthy condition. Set a goal of having a minimum of 75%of the water's edge in a natural condition. Leave a vegetation buffer zone of 10 to 15 metres extending back from the shoreline, and then allow the shoreline to return to its natural state. The process can be accelerated by planting native plants such as willows, dogwoods, meadowsweet, steeplebush, speckled alder, winterberry holly, nanny-berry, red maple, Joe-pye weed, swamp milkweed, and cardinal flower. When installing a dock, choose either a floating or cantilever model. Because these docks don't touch the lake bed, existing fish and plant communities are not disturbed. Retaining walls, if present, should be eventually removed. Erosion control can be achieved by creating a sloped shoreline integrated with aquatic plants.

On Sunday, July 26, a shoreline rehabilitation workshop will be held at the Ecology Park on Ashburnham Drive starting at 2 p. m. It will be led by Sue Prentice. Please note that Ecology Park is an excellent source of shoreline plants. A good web site on shoreline restoration can be found at

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/shoreland/

Shoreline health is hugely important in protecting the many species at risk that are found along the Trent-Severn Waterway. These include species such as map, musk, Blanding's, and snapping turtles. Parks Canada, through an ongoing program called Waterway Wildlife--Action for Habitat for Health--began three years ago to raise public awareness and protection for 40 species at risk, and their habitats. The project included collaboration with the Province of Ontario to inventory vegetation types and species at risk and map their distribution along with sensitive wetland and upland habitats. The maps will be important environmental tools for decision makers throughout the Waterway. Three networks of stakeholder groups, representing over 60 individual organizations including conservation authorities, First Nations, municipalities, land trusts, MNR, nature conservancies, naturalists clubs and others, were created to undertake pilot projects to demonstrate sound habitat rehabilitation and best management practices. Shoreline naturalization, marsh restoration, construction and installation of chimney swift towers, and butternut tree plantings were some of the projects undertaken.

Staff from Parks Canada and stakeholder organizations also undertook a range of public outreach programs that connected with over 10,000 people per year at over 200 events. Through this project, the combined actions of governments, stakeholder organizations and citizens contributed to a culture of conservation throughout the Waterway by promoting sound, informed decision-making, strengthening the awareness of habitat conservation for species at risk and encouraging citizen-based environmental stewardship actions. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated partners and pro-gram staff, The Waterway Wildlife -Action for Habitat Health program was awarded the Parks Canada CEO's Award of Excellence for 2009, a tremendous honour within Parks Canada.

Parks Canada staff is busy now building on information gathered and relationships forged over the past three years. Currently, much time and effort is being poured into expanding the public outreach and education component of the program. Habitat restoration will continue to be a main focus, once again with the assistance of landowners and stakeholders. "Citizen science"--scientific projects in which volunteers with no scientific training perform research-related tasks such as observation and measurement--will also continue to play a valuable role in future activities. Be sure to visit the Waterway Wildlife web site at www.waterwaywildlife.com to see how you, too, can contribute.

If you are on the waterway this summer, educational products related to the Waterway Wildlife program are available at Lock Stations, and at the headquarters office on Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough. Some of these materials include species at risk collector cards, the "Action for Habitat Health" tabloid newspaper, a CD promoting a greater understanding of species at risk, and cloth grocery bags.

Province pushing through with Barrie expansion

Ontario has begun consulting the aboriginal community as well as called meetings with Barrie, Innisfil and Simcoe County to push through its proposed plan for growth in the region.


As part of a June 4 announcement, Ontario unveiled “Simcoe Area: A Strategic Vision for Growth”, which effectively throws out the county’s growth plan, the result of almost two years of work and culminating in the county’s new Official Plan, now in limbo; Barrie’s OP is also on hold.


Planning throughout Simcoe County is on hold as the proposed Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Act works its way through the legislative process. Official Plans – the long-range documents that define what type of development will occur where – are all on hold.


Municipal Affairs regional director Larry Clay told Simcoe County the province is still waiting for the county to explain its proposed plan, which is on hold as Ontario consults with the natives and examines whether it fits with the Lake Simcoe Protection Act.


“Given that the ministry is the approval authority (for the county plan) we have initiated a process to consult with the Aboriginal communities in and around the Simcoe area that may have an interest in the plan,” Clay told county planning director Bryan McKell in a letter last week.


“Second, as you are aware, county staff are currently in the process of finalizing a land budget exercise that is intended to support some of the land use and policy decision it has made through the adopted official plan. Our staff are awaiting this critical information,” he reminded the planner of a November 2008 request.


“Third, on June 2, the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan was finalized. Our staff are assign how this plan now affects the Simcoe County official plan, and if any additional policies need to be incorporated.”


He told McKell work will continue this summer, and already last week, Deputy Premier George Smitherman – whom Premier Dalton McGuinty appointed to lead consultations on the proposed legislation – met with Barrie and Innisfil mayors and the county warden last Wednesday.


Ontario’s Growth Secretariat cut population and employment allocations for the next 25 years in all but Barrie, Orillia, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Collingwood and New Tecumseth. The province envisions a vibrant urban centre, Barrie, being supported by “ a strong network of communities.”
County council is to discuss the issue at its next regular meeting, scheduled for June 23.


“I believe we have to have an official vote to see if we support this (proposed solution),” said Essa Mayor David Guergis.
“It’s an important announcement and it affects all of us directly.”


Ever since, however, Ontario has had senior bureaucrats talking with municipal CAOs and planners; as well, Deputy Premier George Smitherman met separately with Innisfil Mayor Brian Jackson, Simcoe County Warden Tony Guergis and Barrie’s boundary working group last Wednesday. Premier Dalton McGuinty has appointed Smitherman to lead the consultations on the province’s vision for the county.


“Our voice wasn’t properly heard. We need to have a better voice – or they’re going to make us irrelevant,” the Essa mayor added.

Prize fish caught in Orillia

A 10-inch fish netted a Bradford man a hefty jackpot on Friday afternoon, after he landed a tagged fish worth $2,500 during the Orillia Perch Festival.
The Casino Rama-sponsored fish was plucked from the waters of Lake Simcoe near the Narrows by Steve Clark, recently laid off from his job at an auto parts manufacturer.
“The money will come in very handy, that’s for sure,” the exuberant 49 year old said.
Clark was fishing with his friend Dave Norgrove when he felt a tug at his line and reeled in the fish with its bright yellow tag.
“I flung it in the boat like any little perch,” he recalled. “I might have used a net if I had known it was worth $2,500.”
Clark said he planned to take his wife to dinner.
“We might go to the casino for a little while, but they’re not getting all (of the winnings) back,” he added jokingly.

Windfall Ecology Centre launches new lake protection program

It's also time to save that rain water.
The Windfall Ecology Centre launched its new education program, Rain Saver, at this weekend's annual Newmarket Home Show.

The program is designed to educate residents about the benefits of retaining, filtering and using rainwater in their yards before the water enters the sewer system.

One of the leading causes of water pollution is non-point sources of water, such as storm water run-off, land development and on-site sewage systems.

The largest combined source of storm water run-off in the Lake Simcoe watershedcomes from the towns of Newmarket and Aurora, where sediment, cleaning agents, sewage, pesticides, road salt, pet waste, oil and grease contribute to phosphorus building in Lake Simcoe.

Through the program, homeowners are trained by Windfall experts on five primary protection solutions; conserving water, naturalizing property and landscapes, using environmentally friendly products, protecting the watershed and eliminating run-off.

Along with the education program, homeowners are given a rain barrel, with delivery and in-home consultations.

For more information, contact the Windfall Ecology â?¨Centre at 905-727-0491 or visit www.windfallcentre.ca


RAIN SAVER TIPS

-Conserve water. By conserving water, residents reduce stress on waterways and decrease the potential for phosphorus contamination.

-Naturalize property. Restored natural waterways on property and enhanced greenspaces will also reduce phosphorus. Refrain from using chemical fertilizers on the lawn.

-Use environmentally friendly products. Natural and environmentally friendly cleaners are safer for plants, local wildlife and the watershed.

-Participate. Protecting the watershed starts at home by recognizing the results of home-use water and products on the watershed.

-Eliminate run-off. Rain