Gbcla

Jeff Green | Aug 10, 2006

Back toHome

GBCLA prepares to implement LakeStewardshipPlan

by MartinYates

Last Sunday over 100 members and guests attended the annual general meeting of the Greater Bobs and Crow Lakes Association at the Bedford Hall and heard of the excellent progress that has been made with the association’s ambitious lake plan.

Research and planning for the plan is nearly complete. The draft version is now in preparation and by early next year the final plan document will be published. The draft will be available for comment from the public in early September. Copies will be placed at the three local township offices, in public libraries and on-line on the GBCLA web site, www.bobsandcrowlakes.ca.

An additional open workshop will be held on August 19th to enable public input.

As the plan takes shape, the association is preparing for the important task of implementation. Working groups will be set up to prepare detailed recommendations and action plans in the following important areas: Water, Fisheries, Natural environs, Recreational boating, Development, Emergency services, and “Developing a sense of community.” The seven groups will bring forward their recommendations next spring.

A key aspect of implementing the Lake Stewardship Plan will be the raising of funds to support the various programs. While a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation supported the plans’ development, future work will need to be funded. President Susan announced the formation of The Bobs and Crow Lakes Foundation a foundation with charitable status, which will be able to raise funds to support specific projects. John McCalla is the President of the Foundation and he gave a brief summary of its first few months.

Randy French, the association’s lake planning consultant, was the guest speaker and he emphasised the importance of reaching out to all members of the various lake communities to make sure the plan gains everyone’s support and that it becomes a living plan, guiding everyone’s actions and protecting the lake environment well into the future.

Honoured guests included Mayors Bill Lake and Bill MacDonald of South and Central Frontenac Townships and Reeve Keith Kerr of Tay Valley Township , who gave brief addresses, and Councillors David Hahn, Janet Gutowski and Susan Freeman. The OPP and Bedford Fire Department also attended with displays of their equipment and there were many interesting and informative exhibits.

The new slate of Directors was elected for 2006 2007 and they are now getting ready for yet another busy year!