Archipelago Township

Council
Points of Contact
Reeve: Peter Ketchum
peter.ketchum@sympatico.ca

Township Clerk: Stephen Kaegi

skaegi@thearchipelago.on.ca

Counsellor: John Cochrane

drjgc@hughes.net

Counsellor: Terry Desmasdons

tbd@vianet.on.ca

The Township of the Archipelago

9 James Street
Parry Sound, ON
P2A IT4
The Township of the Archipelago Tuesday January 27th, 2009

Attention: Reeve Peter Ketchum

Stephen Kaegi
John Cochrane
Terry Desmasdon

On Friday January 23rd, 2009 I had a conversation with John Cochrane to ask him if the
Township was considering moving the garbage bins from their present location at Pointe
Au Baril Station to the area of crown land on the main channel between my property and
Payne Marina.

Cochrane confirmed that this location was definitely being considered and perhaps at this
point in time is the preferred location. Although Cochrane did say, at this point the
decision to move the bins to the waterfront of the main channel was in the infancy stages
and many studies had to be completed before this came to fruition.

I expressed my concerns regarding moving the bins to the Georgian Bay waterfront and
Cochrane suggested I draft this letter forthwith.

Having been a full time resident living on the first property west of Payne Marina on the
main channel for the past seven years and prior to that a summer cottager for the past 43
years, I feel I can speak intelligently as to why moving the bins to the south side of the
main channel is perhaps not the best of locations.

The following are the reasons why I see this as a poor choice of locations;

Islanders and residents, I am sure, would agree that the navigable waterway between
Payne Marina and Brignall Banks is the most congested boating area in all of Pointe Au
Baril. This has been the case for many years and has only gotten more hazardous of late
as the boats have gotten bigger and faster. It is suggested that a dock would have to be
placed at this new garbage location to facilitate dropping of garbage. This would only
increase congestion in this location. I have witnessed many near misses of boat collisions
over the years and it is my respectful submission that putting a garbage dock on the
channel with boats negotiating the proposed new dock would further congest an already
overcrowded area. This has the potential for a navigational disaster that could cause
injury or loss of life.

Is it reasonable, wise, or fair to ask boaters to make a stop tie up their boats in an area
where wake has always been an issue? There is an obvious potential for damage to
people’s boats being tossed against a garbage dock by boat wakes. We are all in a better
position when pulling into the Station dock as wake is not an issue.
In addition boaters slowing down or powering up at the proposed new garbage location
would be a detriment on the shore line and to the environment in general.

In a time when we are all working towards a greener environment is it at all reasonable to
even think about building a garbage facility on the shores of Georgian Bay. Granted the
present location of the bins isn’t the most environmentally friendly but why should we
create a worse situation. In order to create the new location the shore line and adjoining
areas would undoubtedly undergo huge change with trees being cut and natural rock
being blasted to enable the garbage bins to be close enough to the shore to be reasonably
accessed. Just imagine starting your boating journey through the gateway to the 30,000
Islands and seeing a dump on your way.

By-laws such as the height restrictions are enacted by this Township with the goal of
preserving the natural landscape of Pointe Au Baril and now it is suggested ripping out an
area of natural beauty and building a dump for the boating publics’ viewing pleasure.

Thousands of dollars and countless hours have been spent trying to clean up the water in
Sturgeon Bay. The area of the proposed site is in Sturgeon Bay. No matter how many
safeguards are built into this proposed site to prevent leaching of contaminates into the
soil and the water, I suggest this will be all for not when someone who doesn’t feel like
walking to the bins places their garbage on the dock. We have seen this time and time
again at our Marinas and the present garbage location. As we all know it doesn’t take
long for the gulls and ravens to pick apart a garbage bag. Again this situation exists at the
present bin location but why make a bad situation worse.

An even more serious scenario created by someone not practicing due diligence when it
comes to placing garbage in the proposed bin site is bears. We all know that where there
is garbage lying around you will have bears. This may not occur at the present location
but I can assure you I have seen plenty of bears wandering around in this area without
garbage being left unattended. Imagine boating to your cottage on a dark night and hitting
a black bear swimming across the channel for a bag of garbage left on the dock. Again,
envision the navigational nightmare of hitting a bear and being tossed out of your boat
into the water. Why would we create a scenario for potential personal injury and loss of
life?

There are two issues that must be addressed and investigated when it comes to ripping up
the landscape to create this site. First is the fall migration of the white tailed deer. For the
last seven years my wife and I have enjoyed watching the deer congregate on the north
side of the channel where they cross the channel between our property and Payne’s
Marina where they continue their migration. This year we have documented one hundred
and nine deer. Is this proposed site going to affect this age old migration process? The
second point that warrants investigation is the Massassauga rattle snake. They are an
endangered species and for those of us who are familiar with the immediate area, it is
well known that the area between Payne’s Marina and Brignall Banks is highly populated
by this rattlesnake. Is the creation of this new garbage site going to affect their natural
habitat?
What is the cost to the taxpayer going to be to create this site? I can only imagine that
carving out a cliff, building a road so the bins can be removed and emptied and putting in
a dock that will be large enough to accommodate users will not be cheap.

On a personal note what will happen to the property value of cottagers and residents
alike. Needless to say it will be a personal financial disaster. Why would any responsible
thinking official cause this to happen when there are alternatives?

So what is a reasonable alternative? We all know that council has spent many hours
trying to find a solution that will satisfy the community and the environmental impact of
the present situation. According to Cochrane one of the goals is to beautify the station
area of Pointe Au Baril.

I suggest keeping the garbage in the current general area central to all users. Perhaps it
should be moved to the new docking area at the station for contractors. Money should be
spent on environmental safeguards. A structure or barrier to mask the appearance of the
bins should be built. The facility should be adequately staffed to ensure optimum
compliance. A by-law should be enacted that would hold non-property owners and those
who misuse the facility financially responsible.

To conclude there has to be a better alternative than building a dump right on the outer
shores of Georgian Bay.

Sincerely,

Greg Andrews
Lot 25 A
Harrison Island

cc: Canadian Coast Guard

Ministry of Natural Resources
To Council Members of Township of the Archipelago:

Peter Ketchum, Reeve

Terry Desmasdon , Councillor
John Cochrance, Councillor
Gary French, Councillor
Ken Williams,Councillor

I the undersigned do not agree with the area of Crown Land on the south side of the main
channel west of Payne Marina to be used as a garbage transfer site. Furthermore, I ask
that council abandon this idea and seek a site user friendly to both Islanders and
Residents alike.

Name (s)

Property Location
May 10th, 2009

To: Pointe au Baril Residents

Re: Garbage Situation

My name is Greg Andrews. I have been a full time resident of PAB for six years and
prior to that I cottaged in the area for the past 43 years. My wife and I own the first
property on the south side of the main channel west of Payne Marina.

In late January of 2009 I learned that council was investigating purchasing the crown land
between Payne Marine and our property as a proposed transfer site. On the advice of
Ward One Councilor John Cochrane I was urged to write a letter to council expressing
my concerns. (See attached).

Subsequently a petition was circulated opposing this site where 103 names were
collected.

At the March meeting of council I did a deputation at which time I presented the petitions
on record and expressed my concerns regarding the proposed site on the channel
highlighting such issues as the destruction of a natural piece of shoreline, impact on the
environment through water contamination as well as the impact on natural resources, cost
to taxpayers, further congestion of one of the busiest channels in the PAB area, and lastly
the devastation to property values in the immediate area.

At the end of the meeting I was thanked for my input and urged by council members to
continue collecting petitions as this proposed site will continue to be investigated.

As many of us are aware, garbage disposal has been an issue for many years in PAB.
From back in the days when garbage was burnt in incinerators at the back of islands to
the days when Murray Kennedy looked after it at the station, to the present day where
unsightly bins welcome us at the entrance of our cottage get away.

So after all these years where is the solution? We ask ourselves what are we getting for
our tax dollars, both islanders and residents alike.

Well as most of us are aware through the recent letter from the Township, steps have
been taken in an effort to resolve the problem. New compacting bins have been
purchased to take the place of the old style bins at the present location. Staffing will be
provided during certain hours to ensure compliance. Thought has been given to providing
security for off hours. Finally the bins will be removed from the village from November
through April.
We must ask ourselves what will the summer of 2010 bring? Will the compacting bins
be, placed back in the village or will the Township go ahead and move the bins to the
proposed site on the main channel? On that note I was told that the main channel site was
one of three sites council was investigating. To date council will not disclose the location
of the other two sites. One must ask themselves why the mystery? What if one of the
other proposed sites was on your doorstep? Shouldn’t a responsible government be
forthright with their constituents?

Is there another solution? PABIA is suggesting dockside pick up which in my view has
many good merits. Other suggestions I have heard is purchasing property in the area of
the Shell Station and placing the new bins there.

At the end of the day there are many avenues that can be investigated.

The one thing I hope we can all agree on is that a transfer site has no business being
anywhere on the shores of Georgian Bay. Whether it means destroying a piece of natural
shoreline on the main channel or placing it on a vacant island in the outer reaches of
PAB. One way or another it will be unsightly and garbage will end up in the bay.

I ask that you join with me and the many others who believe this proposed site on the
main channel is the recipe for disaster and tell our elected officials to abandon their
investigation.

Sincerely,

Greg Andrews
Lot 25A
Harrison Island
To:

The Township of the Archipelago

I, the undersigned have been made aware that an area of crown land shore line on the
south side of the main channel west of Payne Marina is a proposed site for the garbage
bins that are presently located at Pointe Au Baril Station.

I disagree with this proposed new location and recommend that the bins be kept in their
current general location with modifications to make them environmentally friendly and
aesthetically pleasing to the community.

Name and signature

Property location
VIEW OF PROPOSED GARBAGE SITE IN BRIGNALL BANKS
 CLOSE UP AERIAL VIEW
OF PROPOSED GARBAGE SITE

x
POINTE AU BARIL GARBAGE