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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 1 0v)() 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 0 PAGEI 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, r W.H. Stockwell Chief Administrative Officer ij