Oro-Medonte Needs its Conservation Authority

Letter from Ric Symmes Oro-Medonte Township September 4 2010
I understand why developers would welcome “one stop shopping” in Oro-Medonte.  Without an independent Conservation Authority with legislative clout, all they have to do is persuade a few councilors and a decision will be made in one of the infamous “in camera” meetings.

I understand why some misguided council might try to bar the CA and keep all the power to say “yes”, but it is beyond me why the citizens of the township would agree to such a short-sighted measure – if they get the chance.
Twelve years living in Oro-Medonte has given me plenty of time to appreciate the rural beauty of the area and the importance of protecting water and wetlands as developers press upwards from the South.  I grew up in the valley of the Credit River where rural councils allowed people to build in the flood plain and hazard lands.  During rain events, the river ran red with sediment, the salmon left the river and every few years emergency crews had to rescue stranded families when ice jams flooded lowlands. 
Good watershed planning, led by the Conservation Authority, changed all that.  Developers knew the rules, flood plain homes were bought out over time, water quality improved, and the wild salmon and trout returned.  Land owners got free advice and help to steward their lands, reforest the steep slopes and protect the tributaries. Conservation areas became popular fishing places and parks for regional recreation.  The pattern has been the same in all the mature regions to the south.  Now that development pressures are spilling north, Oro-Medonte needs the same long term and informed approach to planning and conservation, and the legislation to back that up.
For years, many of the waterways leading to Lake Simcoe lacked any conservation authority.  As a result of uncoordinated development decisions around the lake, and a lack of attention to water quality in the tributaries, Lake Simcoe has had a “near death experience”.  Source water protection and the Lake Simcoe Act were introduced to address the obvious problems.   Conservation Authorities know-how and experience is needed on the Oro-Medonte side to support the recovery.  Councils just hate to say “no”, and too often fail to do so.
The out-going Oro-Medonte Council has pursued a strange and expensive effort to push the Nottawasaga Conservation Authority out of the township.  It appears that township representatives at Simcoe County have a similar campaign under way.  All this comes at a time when we need the Conservation Authority more than ever.  The old council may even try to bind the in-coming council by squeezing through some last minute measures in the coming week.  Let us all hope that wiser heads prevail, for the good of the township and all those who value its clean water and rural character.