Township Can't Do Much About Camping On Skootamatta Crown Land

Craig Bakay | Jun 28, 2023

The Skootamatta District Ratepayers Association (SDRA) is concerned about camping on Crown Land around the lake but because it is Crown Land, Addington Highlands Township has no jurisdiction there, Council heard at its regular meeting June 20 in Denbigh.

In a letter to Council discussed at the June 20 meeting, SDRA President Joel Arthurs said: “With the warming weather, the members of the SDRA have begun to see a drastic increase in shoreline camping on Skootamatta Lake.

“Camping trailers and semi-permanent docks on shoreline road allowances, blocked boat launches, extensive littering and dangerous bonfires are just a few of the issues that we have seen since the ice went out less than two months ago.”

“Because I live on Skootamatta Lake, I hear a lot of conversations about this,” said Coun. Ken Hook. “(But) it’s still a Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MNRF) problem.

“I don’t think we’re looking at taking on any new bylaw enforcement . . . boat launches are Crown.

“I guess our only solution is to continue to call the T.I.P.S. line.

“I think Joel knows this but they’re just looking for any help they can get.”

CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed said they did respond to an MNRF email June 9 and Council passed a resolution on May 6 to contact MNRF as well as copy the MPP on concerns over Crown Land camping.

Dep. Clerk/Planning Secretary Patricia Gray said they had received an email from the Ministry ‘today’ (June 20) stating that the ministry was considering addressing missing signage, perhaps along with anti-theft devices.

She did, however, reiterate that there wasn’t much a municipality could do on Crown Land.

“We have a bylaw regulating camping on municipal road allowances, shore road allowances, in our own parks and any municipally owned land,” she said. “But the municipality has no say in whether T.I.P.S. line complaints are being followed up on.

“And it would be a big ask for the municipality to take on something the MNRF is already responsible for — there’s maintenance, care, safety concerns, road grading, parking, liability.

“There’s a lot more to it than just making sure some garbage is picked up.”

She said they did forward some GPS coordinates of problematic sites to the Ministry for their teams to look at.

“We will also continue to encourage the Ministry to drop in on these sites to encourage people to follow the rules,” said Dep. ReeveTony Fritsch, who was also chairing the meeting in the absence of Reeve Henry Hogg.

Facebook Page

Coun. Ken Hook asked that staff look into a FaceBook page and a Kaladar/Barrie Fire Department Twitter account that appear to be dormant.

BMO – re ATM in AH

CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed told Council the Township had received correspondence from the Bank of Montreal advising that they were prepared to let the Township know of any ATM status changes.

Water issues on Ashby Lake Road

Roads and Waste Manager Brett Reavie reported there have been some water issues on Ashby Lake Road that have held up the surface treatment work. He said some springs “showed up” requiring subdrain work.

Reavie said culvert and ditching work was completed on O’Donnell Road as well as the Story Creek Bridge guide rail work and culvert replacements on Freeburn and Deer Rock Lake.

Work will now shift to complete reconstruction of Hartsmere Road, he said.

Reavie also said new waste disposal fees will be implemented July and copies of the new fees can be obtained from waste site attendants.

Calcium chloride application is being scheduled dependent on weather.

Fees waved

Council waived the rental fees for the top floor of Administration building in Flinton for the Land O’Lakes Community Services AGM Sept. 25

Wind Tower!

Council directed staff to complete a Municipal Comment Form in association with the construction of a meteorological tower on Crown Land in the Township 4 km south of Vennachar.

The request to install the tower comes from SWEB Development, a renewable energy developer which is prospecting sites across Ontario for wind energy development.

“This isn’t the first wind tower,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch. “You might expect some controversy.”

Dep. Clerk/Planning Secretary Patricia Gray said there are no municipal bylaws or policies regarding meteorological towers.