HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-132-97THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
MWIL- CRE.GPA
Meeting:
Date:
Report #:
6
General Purpose and Administration Committee
Monday, September 22, 1997
PD- 132 -97 File #PLN 15.11.2
File #
Res. # . GO = _ 9 -1
By -law #
Subject: WILMOT CREEK NATURE RESERVE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN
FILE: PLN 15.11.2
Recommendations:
it is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration
Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report PD- 132 -97 be received for information.
1. PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1 The purpose of this Report is to advise Committee and Council of the status of
the study to develop an Environmental Management Plan for the Wilmot Creek
Nature Reserve.
2. BACKGROUND
2.1 A consulting team led by Bird and Hale Ltd., in association with Hough Woodland
Naylor Dance, G.M. Sernas Ltd. and Shoreplan Engineering Ltd., was retained by
the Municipality in March 1997 to undertake the Environmental Management Plan
(EMP) for the Wilmot Creek Nature Reserve. A Community Advisory Committee
was formed to facilitate the sharing of information and to give direction to the
consultant. The Committee consists of Planning and Public Works staff, a Council
representative (Councillor Dreslinski), representatives from the Region of Durham
Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Natural Resources,
and various citizen and naturalist groups.
REPORT PD-132-97 PAGE 2
2.2 The EMP study process is proceeding in three phases. The first phase involves
the collection of background information to provide a general understanding of
the Nature Reserve study area and to identify issues to be developed in the EMP.
Phase 2 involves the preparation of a Concept for the Nature Reserve, while
Phase 3 involves the preparation of an Implementation Strategy to implement the
Concept.
2.3 The consulting team submitted the draft Phase 1 report in July 1997. An interim
Phase 2 report was also submitted in July. In this latter report, the consulting
team proposed a range of three options for the development and management
of the Nature Reserve (see Attachment Nos. 1, 2 and 3). Management Level I
proposes a low use - low management approach, while Level III proposes the
highest level of use, with higher development and management costs. Level II
proposes a moderate level of use and management. The consulting team is
currently gathering comments on the three management options.
3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
3.1 The Community Advisory Committee has met three times. The initial meeting on
January 23, 1997 introduced the Committee members to the study and solicited
early comments on the development of the Nature Reserve. The Committee met
again on March 25, 1997 with the consulting team, to discuss options for public
participation and to establish a timetable for the project. The third Committee
meeting on July 29, 1997 involved a preliminary review of the draft Phase 1
Report and the three management options for the Nature Reserve.
3.2 Three newsletters regarding the Environmental Management Plan for the Wilmot
Creek Nature Reserve have been issued. The first newsletter issued in late May
1997 introduced the Nature Reserve area and the process for developing the
Environmental Management Plan. The second newsletter, released in August
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REPORT -t PAGE 3
1997, advertised the September 10, 1997 Public Information Centre at the
Newcastle Village Hall and provided information on the three management options
for the Nature Reserve. The third newsletter, which was available at the
September 10, 1997 Public Information Centre, provided more information on the
management options for the Nature Reserve. Newsletters were distributed in a
number of ways, including through Advisory Committee members and local
libraries. Comment sheets were included with all of the newsletters.
3.3 A tour of the Nature Reserve study area was held on June 13, 1997. Members
of the Advisory Committee participated, as well as representatives from Ontario
Hydro, the Kaitlin Group and the Rice Group. The tour was followed by a
workshop at which various ideas for development of the Nature Reserve were
discussed.
3.4 A Public Information Centre was held in the Parish Hall of St. George's Anglican
Church, Newcastle Village on August 28, 1997. Representatives from various
community groups were among those invited.
A Public Meeting was also held on September 10, 1997 in the Newcastle Village
Community Hall. Notice of this meeting was provided in local newspapers, as
well as through newsletters. At both these meetings, the consultant presented the
management options for the Nature Reserve and discussed the possible options
for developing a long term management structure to oversee the development of
the Nature Reserve. The residents who attended provided a number of valuable
comments and observations on appropriate uses and long term management
options for the Nature Reserve.
4. EMERGING ISSUES
4.1 One of the fundamental issues emerging from the Environmental Management
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REPORT NO.: •
Plan process is determining an appropriate balance between environmental
protection and enhancement of the Nature Reserve and recreational use of the
site. Intensive and uncontrolled use of the Nature Reserve for such activities as
fishing and dirt biking have the potential to seriously degrade the Reserve's
ecological values, and interfere with more passive activities such as hiking and
bird - watching. On the other hand, strict controls on access and use would have
environmental benefits, but could create public resentment, particularly among
traditional users of the site, and could be difficult to enforce. The issue of balance
is reflected in the three management options developed by the consulting team.
The public participation component of the EMP study process has, to date, been
largely focused on gathering comments from the public on what level of use and
protection they feel are appropriate for the Nature Reserve.
4.2 A second major issue that has been identified through the EMP study process is
defining and developing an implementation process for the long term
management of the Nature Reserve. Part of this process will involve identifying
individuals and groups interested in helping.to develop and manage the Nature
Reserve, defining an appropriate level of Municipal involvement, and identifying
possible sources of funding. An effective implementation framework is essential
to coordinating and optimizing the involvement of various groups,and is critical
to the long term success of the Nature Reserve. The "Friends of Second Marsh"
group in Oshawa is often cited as an example of community /government
cooperation in the management of a significant natural feature, and could serve
as a model for the establishment of an implementation structure for the Wilmot
Creek Nature Reserve.
5. REVISED STUDY TIMETABLE
5.1 The initial study timetable called for a final Recommended Concept and
Implementation Strategy to be submitted for approval to the General Purpose and
Administration Committee meeting of October 20, 1997. However, due to the
REPORT -D-
extensive public consultation process being undertaken for the management
options for the Nature Reserve, this timetable is no longer realistic.
5.2 A revised timetable agreed to by both the consulting team and Planning Staff
would see a draft Recommended Concept and Implementation Strategy submitted
in November 1997. The Community Advisory Committee will meet to review and
provide comments on these draft documents in early December. The final
Environmental Management Plan, to include a Recommended Concept and
Implementation Strategy for the Nature Reserve, will be presented to a Public
Meeting for comments and to the General Purpose and Administration Committee
for approval in early 1998.
6. CONCLUSION
6.1 The Environmental Management Plan study process is proceeding well and public
interest in the project appears to be growing. In the latter stages of the study
process, the consulting team and staff, together with the Community Advisory
Committee, will be actively seeking to identify groups and individuals interested
in helping in the management of the Nature Reserve.
Respectfully submitted,
ranklin Wu, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Director of Planning
and Development
JAS *DC *FW *df
12 September 1997
Attachment #1 - Management Level I
Attachment #2 - Management Level II
Attachment #3 - Management Level III
Reviewed by,
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W.H. Stockwell
Chief Administrative
Officer
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