Wasaga Beach has been…

Wasaga Beach has been developing at a pace unprecedented in the rest of the province. The existing transportation and infrastructure is not in existence to support further development of lands slated to be absorbed from the Provincial Park to the Town of Wasaga Beach. We have one main east west road through town with no space for another route.

During the past two years development has scoured the landscape and now, with losing additional park land, it will get worse.

Regarding the Park Land in question to be ceded to the Town:

There should be NO development on the dunes and beach area in the spit to the far east end of Beach One. It is presently covered in little used degraded tarmac parking lots. Let this special area go back to nature. Don’t spoil it any further. At best, remove the tarmac that is there. Building on this land would require water sewer and hydro in an area that is already fragile and constantly shifting during change of seasons.

As well, the other lands that are proposed to be turned over to the town (smaller parcels dotted throughout the edges of the existing park) will undoubtedly go to development and those with the money to exploit what presently belongs to the people of the Province.

This town is suffering from over development already. Day trippers from the city will have difficulty finding parking as the present development of hotels and townhomes goes forward. A parking garage has been mentioned but that shouldn’t go on endangered land. We heard at a council meeting that underground parking may be considered! If you dig in the sand you get water! An expensive venture to no avail as we do not have, nor will there be year round activities to support the proposed development.

The plan for the development of Nancy Island is excellent. Focus on that first. Consider that part of the plan to gauge its success. If it is successful in bringing back “quality” tourism then perhaps the rest of the beach development can be to support the natural environment that complements the beach. Do we really need 3,000 more homes in this area?

Let the town complete the present plans for Main Street the hotel and housing that is already taking place. Go ahead with the Nancy Island historical area. Put a hold on further development of the spit area and do not go further with ceding the rest of the Provincial Park areas until this first phase has been completed. There are too many things happening at once. Council is well intentioned, but there is too much right now to take on all of this at the same time.

The Province does need to continue maintaining the Park as it exists and at this point in time, money needs to be spent on maintaining what is already run down and antiquated. (Washrooms, picnic areas etc.).

Don’t rush there is no hurry. Rome wasn’t built in a day.