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Huron-Kinloss/MNR Beach Management Agreement goes through After years of work by staff, council members and others, the long awaited agreement has been finalised, seeing Huron-Kinloss taking responsibility for its beaches from the Amberley Road, to the Kincardine boundary at Boiler Beach. Administrator Mary Rose Walden told council the good news at the June 18 meeting in Ripley. “How long was this?” joked Mayor Mitch Twolan. Twolan was referring to the extended period of time it took to cut through the bureaucratic red tape in dealing with the provincial government. Council, staff and those attending the meeting were all smiles when the announcement was made. The idea of the township managing its own beaches has been thrown around for some time. The idea came to the forefront again several years ago, when a lakefront property owner in “Blair’s Grove” was caught on camera killing off every bit of vegetation with a mid-sized garden tractor to make himself a sandier beach. The unit was equipped with a backhoe, a bucket, a tiller and a rake. He repeated the practice numerously since then, upsetting both residents and township officials. He was also seen dumping the dead vegetation in the water, then driving up the beach and taking sand from the water in front of neighbouring properties and dumping it in front of his own. Those concerned with the destruction of the dune’s ecosystem were alarmed and outraged. Many hoped there were fines, steep enough to put an end to the destruction of the public beaches. Unfortunately, there was very little the township or the MNR could do, as actual ownership and responsibility of the beach was in question. That has now changed thanks to the dedication of those involved in hammering out the agreement. The “Memorandum of Agreement” went into effect on June 18, 2007. “This is a wonderful thing,” said councillor Jim Hanna. “Thank you for all your hard work, it’s been a long time. Council agreed. Walden explained that following approval from the MNR on wording, etc, signs would have to be posted. Once signs are posted and the fines are set, the township’s bylaw enforcement officer, Robert McKay, has the authority to issue fines to those who thumb their noses at the township’s bylaws and the ecosystem. McKay will issue the fines under the Public Lands Act, with the money going into township coffers. A report will then be filed with the MOE regarding charges laid under the land act. Initially, they will deal with “motorised vehicles on the beach, prohibiting litter and requiring a stoop and scoop provision, (or any other matter as approved by the ministry).” Fines for these infractions were set at $100. Although there are signs posted at beach areas concerning dogs at large on the beach, it was not mentioned if the fine applied to that infraction. Hanna asked Walden if those destroying the dunes would now be fined. She replied, “That is in the works.” The agreement will have to be renewed “subject to the agreement of both the township and the MOE on December 31, 2007 for the next year. |
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