the last time Wasaga ran the beach

Today let’s discuss the last time the Town of Wasaga Beach offered to take over the operation of part of the Provincial Park. That was quite the show. Of course the Province allowed it. After all it reduced their costs and increased ours. Yes… that was ANOTHER arrangement allowed to lapse with the removal of Smith from office. But it won’t matter. This council will claim any agreement they negotiate as a success and I suspect they will bind future Councils this time.

This time around they are talking about Allanwood Beach. Wow… I would love to be a fly on the wall in their “secret” meetings. What benefits will the town claim to gain? What benefits does the town actually hope to gain?

Remember back when Brian Smith did this the first time? I recall, one of the big reasons was going to be the Towns ability to add lifeguards to Beach One. Did we get lifeguards? No… but I do recall beer tents. Were they right on the beach? Yep, I believe they were, right where we thought lifeguards would go. Of course the Province never allowed that (beer tents) when they managed the beach, but putting a stage right beside the water and serving up a big party was what Brian Smith became known for. Council jumped right back into that party planning this time, even forming a corporation so they won’t have to share details of their operations.

Now that doesn’t mean they want to turn Allanwood into another party palace. Quite the contrary. With Council members and staff living out there, I doubt they hope to bring the party to their back yards. Instead, I suspect a strategy to provide long term increased privacy. I don’t know, maybe the Town would even do something bizarre like add no trespassing signs? Perhaps to raise funds for Beach One and building DownTown, portions of the beach could even be sold to private land owners? (Hey… ANYTHING is possible. The old arena property is being sold SPECIFICALLY to raise funds to proceed with Beach One development.)

But it won’t be a party place. Not Allanwood! No, the big parties will be Beach One and Main Street. Actually, I suspect the opposite to be true. I suspect visitor reduction strategies, like massive increases to parking costs, reduced parking availability and even after hours access gates. But whatever we are told… be ready to read between the lines.

Councilor Ego lives right on that section of homes facing the beach. Because her property would be affected differently with any decisions made than most homes in Wasaga Beach, I wonder if she has consulted the Integrity Commisioner to ask if she should recuse herself. I don’t recall her declaring a conflict yet, so it is possible she does not need to.

In fact, I know Mayor Smith and/or his family have also owned properties on that stretch. I wonder if he/they still do? He has bought and sold a lot of properties in Wasaga Beach since becoming Mayor the first time in 2014, so it is possible he no longer owns them.

What will the future of Allanwood Beach hold? In fact, this “study” that has been combined with a “vesting order” covers beaches and access paths from one end of Wasaga Beach to another. So, despite their passionate claims to the contrary… will their actions in this study open the gates to reducing beach access?

Before anyone accuses me of being paranoid, think about asking the THOUSANDS of beach goers who have parked in the municipal parking lots surrounding the beer store and LCBO where they will park when FRAM builds townhouses on the parking lots and road allowances in that area!

Looking at history is a great way to look forward to the future. So, TRY to recall the reasons actually given for taking over Beach One management during Brian’s last term, then…. Look at the photo I selected for

Smile when you can!