A Look at Lake Simcoe: What’s Georgina to do with the waterfront?

Georgina council paddles forward with first phase of Waterfront strategy

Yorkregion.com
July 3, 2019
Amanda Persico

For many, the beach means sand, water and summer fun.

For Georgina residents the beach means parking issues, overcrowding and congestion.

But rest assured, a solution is coming.

Recently Georgina council voted in favour of moving forward with its Waterfront Parks Master Plan.

“We need to take a step forward, once and for all,” said Mayor Margaret Quirk.

“Councils before have said ‘let’s see’ or approved temporary solutions. We all get the calls, ‘Where are the big plans?’ It’s not getting any better. We can’t keep putting Band-Aid solutions each year.”

Narrowly passing in approval, the waterfront strategy is broken down into three phases completed over the next three years.

Phasing in the strategy is more manageable and allows the town to check off some accomplishments along the way, argued Quirk.

The first phase of the plan, which includes looking at four beaches, will cost the town about $125,000 -- funds that have already been put aside during previous budget deliberations. The next two phases would require future budget considerations and that means more funding -- something several councillors took issue with.

The initial $125,000 proposal, floated around several years ago, was intended to look at solutions for overcrowding, parking, congestion primarily seen at Willow Beach, De La Salle and Holmes Point, and develop a business plan for the Jackson’s Point Harbour Marina.

Since then, the scope of the project has just about tripled, going from four locations to 11, looking at the current usage, future potential and how much those opportunities would cost.

“There’s a cliché, government projects don’t get done on time and come in way over budget,” said Councillor Mike Waddington, who voted against the project along with Regional Councillor Rob Grossi and Councillor Dan Fellini.

“We haven’t even started this and we’re years behind and we’re over budget.”

Creating a waterfront strategy has been discussed for years and with any big-ticket item, the town needs a road map, said the town’s recreation and culture director Dan Buttineau.

Instead, Georgina’s waterfront strategy should be as complete and comprehensive as a secondary plan.

Not to mention, the town already spent money on signage and parking solutions only to spend the same amount next year.

“That’s the same cost approach in a less strategic way,” Buttineau said. “Every year, we’re throwing operating funds at (Lake Simcoe). We need serious solutions to a mounting problem.”

The Waterfront Parks Master Plan is broken down into three phases.

 Phase 1 examines:

• Willow Beach Park;

• De La Salle Beach Park;

• Jackson’s Point Harbour;

• Holmes Point Park; and

A comprehensive list of all municipally-owned waterfront assets, including all wharves, piers, beaches, parks, road ends, shorelines, road allowances, eco-sensitive wetlands and rivers.

 Phase 2 examines:

• Adeline Park, Georgina Leash Free Dog Park;

• Young's Harbour Park;

• Claredon Beach Park;

• Roches Point Area, Rayners Wharf;

• North Gwillimbury Park;

• Mossington Wharf, Black River; and

• Keswick shoreline and Maskinonge River.

Phase 3 is an appraisal of all waterfront properties, including privately owned properties along with strategies for future investment or divestitures.