Residents of Wellington know the beach in their village can be a jewel of Prince Edward County, but only if council and staff start looking after it.
William Cobban addressed council on Thursday at Shire Hall in regards to the Wellington Beach Management Plan.
He stated that as the County’s only municipally owned beach, it shouldn’t look like a chunk of abandoned limestone.
Cobban said the beach is falling behind because of neglect and lack of interest, despite a three year improvement plan being passed in 2017 in regards to the beach property.
He said overall, the beach is not being properly managed and the County is missing out on a huge revenue stream.
Other residents felt the same, including John Inwood of the Wellington Rotary Club, John McCrae of The Wellington Auxiliary Search and Rescue Association, Evan Nash of the Wellington and District Business Association and Barry Davidson.
Nash was the most blunt of the group stating “You wrecked it.”
He continued by saying Wellington Beach could be the County’s version of the Sandbanks and has the potential to be a massive economic opportunity and something to take pride in, but instead is being turned into a toilet.
McCrae said had it not been for the high water last year, because the channel wasn’t dredged out, they wouldn’t have been able to operate, which would have meant tragedy for the nine people the Search and Rescue Association brought back to safety this season.
Cobban said there is no regular beach cleaning, no monitoring of the boat launch and park, and apart from the mass planting of parking signs, (since removed), there is no traffic and parking management.
He said volunteers and Wellington Councillor Mike Harper cleaned the beach, and called the County’s hotline when parking lots were full and when dead fish and birds ended up washed up on shore.
Cobban stated during his deputation the beach has the potential to be a huge revenue generator.
There are two boat launches and boaters are supposed to pay $15 to use the docks. There is a battered old honour box where payments are deposited, but with no staff present, few boaters bother to pay according to Cobban.
He said it’s clear that the County is missing out on thousands of dollars of revenue over the summer tourist season.
Councillor Bill Roberts told those in Council Chambers if anyone was to take the blame, the finger pointing should be directed at council.
Councillor Phil St-Jean said the lack of a Parks and Recreation Department in Prince Edward County is coming back to bite them.
Currently beaches are maintained under the Operations Department.
Mayor Steve Ferguson says the problem is understood.
He participated in a shoreline clean up on June 23, 2019 with Ontario’s Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdswell organized by the non-profit A Greener Future, as part of their Love Your Lake program and said there was lots to do.
Councillor Harper brought forth a motion seeking Council’s support for the Wellington Beach Master Plan, stating it ticks the boxes of some of their key priorities including tourism, climate and financial sustainability.
Council previously approved the Wellington Beach Operating and Improvement Plan submitted by staff originally on April 27, 2017.
That report listed specific actions for the next three years, many of which have yet to be acted upon.
He said he wanted to see channel dredging, beach cleaning/raking, boat launch/parking site plan, user fees and enforcement, Beach Street road closure activation and procedure, overnight parking/camping enforcement and a harbour master all put in place for the summer of 2020.
He also wanted to see an ad-hoc Wellington Beach Advisory Committee formed to report to council on the beach master plan and other long term functional changes.
Harper asked for a report from staff to come forward in February 2020 so staff have the spring to implement the plan.
Acting CAO Robert McAuley said the requests from Harper are in the budget, minus the ad-hoc committee which is a procedural issue; and he was cautiously optimistic those items like channel dredging and beach raking, parking enforcement could be done but the funds aren’t always there.
Harper said he just wanted the County to do better next summer.
The Wellington Beach Master Plan received council’s support and many of the items are expected to come up again for discussion during the budget process in February.
