Wetlands under siege again!

Protect Wasaga Beach Wetlands against Development

from Concerned Citizens of Wasaga Beach — November 8 2016

TOWN COUNCIL CHOOSES DEVELOPMENT OVER WETLANDS

On September 27th, 2016, Wasaga Beach Town Council was packed with residents concerned about proposed development on the Wasaga Beach Wetlands. To our shock, Wasaga Beach Town Council voted 5-2 in favour of amending the Town’s Official Plan to accommodate the development of housing on the sensitive and vital wetlands.

We are asking our councillors to reconsider their decision. The Wasaga Beach Wetlands must be protected so it can continue to serve its critical role in our local environment.

“Provincially significant wetlands in southern Ontario (south of the Canadian Shield) are protected from development by Section 2.1 of the PPS which states “development and site alteration shall not be permitted within provincially significant wetlands in Ecoregions 5E, 6E and 7E” and shall not be permitted on adjacent lands (within 120 m) unless it has been demonstrated that there will be no negative impacts on the wetland or its ecological functions.” (MMAH, 2005). (Provincial Policy Statement 2014). The Town of Wasaga Beach lies within Ecoregion 6E”. (NVCA, 2005, Town of Wasaga Beach Natural Heritage System)

Wetlands provide important and free services. They filter and purify our water resources, help control flooding and erosion, recharge groundwater and store carbon in this time of climate change.

The Wasaga Beach Wetlands is also a crucial link in the region. It connects the internationally-renowned Minesing wetlands, Marl creek and Nottawasaga river to Tiny Marsh. Severing this link would have a permanent and negative impact on the surrounding environment, its wildlife and the function of these waterways.

ONTARIO’S VISION:

Wetland Conservation Strategy for Ontario 2016-2030 has 7 guiding principles including:

– Wetlands should be conserved based on three hierarchical priorities (Protection, Mitigation, Restoration)

– Protection of Provincially Significant Wetland is a priority

PLACES TO GROW ACT:

The Town’s plan to expand its population conflicts with the Places to Grow Act. It emphasizes growth in the core to deter sprawling development on the perimeter. The proposed development and its density are contrary to the Act. Concern is growing that this has been ignored. “The vision in this document impacts Wasaga Beach by reducing the Town’s population allocation by 8,700 people, from a projected population of 35,000 to a projected population of 26,300 by the year 2031. The vision also reduces the projected growth in employment (jobs) from 4,100 to 3,500 additional jobs by 2031.”

Understanding Growth in Wasaga Beach https://www.placestogrow.ca/images/pdfs/Simcoe_ENG.pdf

Concerned Citizens of Wasaga Beach urge town councillors to hold another vote and rescind the motion to pursue development of the Wasaga Beach Wetlands. Our town council cannot preside over the destruction and loss of a provincially significant water resource.