5. Boundary Considerations:…

5. Boundary Considerations:
- include questions 2 and 3 - essentially how would addition/deletion of a property affect existing infrastructure and members of the public?

6 - Overnight Accomodation:
Based on the park not offering overnight accommodation, the Town of Wasaga Beach has many businesses that exist that target overnight guests offering overnight accommodation. Why change the format and impact the local economy in a potentially negative way. It would detract from Tourism.

also there is already a problem with youth of the GTA coming to this park and creating a bit of havoc. camping in the park area will compound this issue.

6 - Park Classification
The park should maintain it's current classification as "Recreational" As many people come for the day to go sailing, kayaking, swimming etc overall recreational enjoyment. The "natural environment" classification is not consistent with the existing classification and leaves it open to be restricted in the future. The park should be for everyone to play. The change in class "would not noticeably affect the park's day to day operations".... a clear case for why it should be changed has not been disclosed. it should remain as "recreational".

6 -Beach Access Paths

The WBPP should retain the same number of access paths at the current allowable width of 3m. it seems a waist of resources to start adjusting these access points. Also in adjusting the access points you are further disturbing the existing vegetation.

6.4 Rename the Beach Areas

The current numbering system should stay in place. Once again this seems like a complete waste of financial resources. The beach has a clear numbering system that already exists with detailed signage, maps and promotional material with this system on it that has already been paid for. It clearly denotes that as the number increases of the beach, the further you are away from Beach 1. Clear and concise.

7. Other Topics.

Items at Issue:

Bathrooms at New Wasaga Beach and Allenwood Beach. These facilities are becoming a health issue. The infrastructure has been at the lot line since 2007 when all local residents were forced to connect to the municipal services. The holding tanks at these bathrooms create a smell that is offensive. As much as these tanks are washed out, the detergent that is used is even more aggressive in smell. it makes one question how environmentally safe the existing system is. As secondary and equally important concern as result of the odours from these facilities - patrons that visit the beach start to urinate on the beach shoulders and neighbouring properties as opposed to using the facilities provided. I have attached two photos of the one time I had my phone on me to take a picture of one such instance. People urinate on the side of the beach entry points on the sand and grass and on adjacent property owners front lawns. Completely unsanitary

In this province it is mandatory for a resident to connect to the services once they reach the lot line. The services were installed and connected to all residents along Coastline Drive in 2007. It is inconceivable that the Province has opted out for more than 10 years? These bathrooms service 1000's of people per summer and should be updated. We have been repeatedly told the connection will be this spring and then the fall and then the next spring... This is a potential health issue, completely unsanitary and an overall black eye on the Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.

New Wasaga Beach

Dredging of the Nottawasaga River took place in the fall of 2010 and approximately 10,000 cubic meters of this dredged soil was dumped onto New Wasaga Beach. In an effort to ensure that the New Wasaga Beach sands were protected a tarp was laid down prior to the soil being placed on the beach. This was only to be on the beach temporarily and then taken away. Somehow this soil is still on the beach after 9 years. I have been told that this soil artificially increased the elevation level of the beach by approximately 6 feet. How is this protecting a natural resource? This beach had pristine sands for over 50 years and now within less than 10 years it has essentially been obliterated.

As much as the beach is currently protected for the Piping Plover. One cannot ignore that the integrity and composition of the Beach was compromised long before the Plover's arrival. How can the provincial park explain that leaving this dredged soil on the beach is "protecting the natural habitat of the beach"?

The tarp remains and we are left with a beach that is infested with invasive species and swamp land. The increased elevation of the beach since the dredging has created a swamp land between the raised elevation and the road and it's been a breeding habitat for invasive species to grow on the beach. The worst invasive species being the Phragamite. It is growing at an alarming rate. There have been no volunteer days offered to include local residents to participate in protecting the beach and I have yet to see anybody from the parks remove this species. If the phragamite is left untreated even the plover won't be able to nest on this beach.

On the topic of the piping plover, there are many public beaches internationally that deal with sensitive or protected species. Since the plover uses the beach in the spring months to nest and raise its offspring - why can't the beach be closed during the spring months - no raking at all and no dogs at all but once the nesting period ends in June then it opens up back to the public and the beach gets raked again? or as was done this summer - the nesting site on Allenwood beach was roped off while the nest was active and then opened up again once they departed the nest. It could be a balance between the environment and human use and the overall economy.

Lastly, there are about 50 "no dogs on the beach" signs everywhere. Adding even more signs is not going to resolve the issue. Maybe instead of saying no dogs on the beach...change the message..."fine of $500 for walking your dog on the beach" give it some teeth and people may respect this law and then enforce it. a few signs at entry points near bathrooms and pay stations would be sufficient.

I appreciate that the province is taking the time for comments and hope that all comments are taken into consideration on decisions moving forward.