Comment
I am opposed to floating accommodation anchored for extended periods in a lake or river.
1. Anchors impact the underwater ecosystem. In some cases, the change could be minimal, but as assessing each location is not practical, extended-period anchoring should not be permitted. Multiple large anchors for a large structure are even more damaging.
2. Polluting the waterbody is inevitable. Those using a floating "cottage" would naturally want to enjoy the outdoors and spend a lot of time relaxing on deck. There would be drinks, food, possibly cigarettes, barbeques, handwashing, occasional spills. Tossing food scraps, drink dregs, butts, etc would be likely. Some structures may have a holding tank for wastewater, but shampooing in the lake, rinsing dishes, or a quick pee might occur. All this mini-pollution may seem a 'drop in the bucket' when looking at all that water - but there are health regulations for land structures and life on land: we need them on the water too and not just by trusting people not to pollute.
People on land may have bad practices, but there are multiple land-based regulations protecting public health and the environment. People have no ownership right to misuse our waterbodies, and how can enforcing regulations at a floating structure be done?
Submitted March 30, 2023 9:12 PM
Comment on
Proposal to amend Ontario Regulation 161/17 to the Public Lands Act to change the requirements related to floating accommodations
ERO number
019-6590
Comment ID
83307
Commenting on behalf of
Comment status