Dear Minister Yakabuski, The…

Dear Minister Yakabuski,
The Township of Augusta has a strong history of close collaboration with South Nation
Conservation (SNC) on shared priorities, which protect the environment and engage
communities while balancing people and nature.
SNC has a streamlined, convenient and pragmatic approach to local regulation and
permit approvals that adhere to their environmental mandate of protecting people and
property from natural hazards; including:
• Delivering municipal watershed planning reviews on behalf of member
municipalities to determine if development is susceptible to natural
hazards.
• Offering pre-consultation meetings to review development proposals with
residents, municipal staff and developers, leading to more efficient
approvals.
• Delivering cost-effective municipal programs through memorandum of
understanding agreements, including issuing permits and performing
inspections for septic installation and maintenance on behalf of 13
participating municipalities under Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code.
• Preparing floodplain maps and updating regulated areas for municipalities
to guide official plans and zoning by-laws, and guide future development
away from flood and erosion-prone areas; SNC holds public open houses
and communicates directly with residents to inform updated mapping.
Conservation Authorities are one of the only boots-on-the-ground agencies working
directly with municipalities, residents, and stakeholders in a timely and meaningful way;
with international recognition for their approach to integrated watershed management.
Strengths in the Conservation Authority service delivery model include:
• The ability to streamline approvals from several agencies and work
directly with applicants through site visits and pre-consultations.
• Local knowledge and expertise as assets to communities and the
environment.
• An effective and efficient approach to reduce red tape for development.
The Township of Augusta supports the Province’s effort to:
• Consolidate regulations to ensure consistency throughout the Province,
while still allowing local flexibility based on differences in risks posed by
natural hazards.
• Allow exemptions for low-risk development activities from requiring
permits, provided in accordance with local policies.
Partnerships with SNC have enabled our resilient communities to grow safely and
sustainably and have allowed us to come together on shared environmental priorities.
We encourage the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to consider the value in
existing approaches by Conservation Authorities which work closely with municipalities
to deliver local permit approvals for development to protect people and property.
Sincerely,