Discussions about Shoreline Protection Policy dominated conversation at Bluewater council’s meeting on Monday (October 16).
Development Manager Aaron Stewardson, and Planning Coordinator Lindsay Whalen presented several concerns from the public and staff to council.
One of the largest points of contention included the installation of retaining walls on municipal shoreline land. Stewardson said that the current policy is prohibitive.
There are also steep engineering requirements in the policy, which staff reccomended remain in place to ensure that the municipality would be not be implicated in the failure of a wall.
It was also said that the public feels the policy lacks fairness and transparency.
Councilor Walden said that the holding of funds in perpetuity is untenable in the long term.
Councilor Lamport said that he believes that those interested in shoreline protection measures should either be required to adhere to steep engineering requirements, or provide funds.
Councilor Whetstone said that when the policy was introduced, it was indicated to council that the structure of a continuous wall shared with adjacent property across municipal lands would maintain municipal property as well as private property.
Council directed staff to revise the existing bylaw to address their concerns, and the concerns of the public as well as staff, and return with their revisions for the council meeting on November 20th.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
