The transfer of ownership…

The transfer of ownership from the province to the municipality would result in far more limited resources would be available to manage the lands in question. The province has managed these areas well with attention to the natural environment including allowing dune systems to develop, removal of invasive species, marram grass planting. Beach raking has been limited to protect Piping Plover nesting habitat. I am concerned that the municipality would be far less attentive to the natural environment.

The areas adjacent to the open beach areas at New Wasaga and Allenwood are dune systems, which are important natural areas that capture sand blowing off of the open beach. I am concerned that the municipality would level these areas to create more open beach, which would be detrimental to the local environment and result in sand blowing onto adjacent downwind properties.

Wasaga Beach and the adjacent beaches (New Wasaga and Allenwood) are a provincial resource visited by thousands of people. Maintenance costs are currently borne by the province as they should be, not by local taxpayers.