Last year, both the Town of Collingwood and the Nottawasaga Conservation Authority (NVCA) officially opposed a development proposed for a wetland. Now, most Councillors appear ready to appease the developer, putting nearby residents at high risk of flooding. The NVCA seems to be OK with that.
The original Minutes of Settlement between the Town of Collingwood and Huntingwood Trails Ltd threatened to greenlight development based on rudimentary 1-Dimensional flood modelling. This, despite the fact that the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust came to the table with superior 2-Dimensional flood modelling, which is what the Town uses for its own Drainage Master Plan. The NVCA suggested we get the flood modelling done. So we did, at great expense. The Chair of the OLT directed the developer to work with the Watershed Trust using the Trust’s 2D modelling. The result is a compromise – protecting the Huntingwood East lands, but failing to address the risk of downstream flooding.
The threat of flooding is real.
Based on the 2D modelling, if Huntingwood Trails gets built, a 100-year storm will inundate next-door neighbourhoods like Silver Glen, Cranberry Trails West and Forest neighbourhoods. That means wet basements, impassable roads and backed-up sewers. Does that sound like good planning?
We know.
The Blue Mountain Watershed Trust has been fighting bad developments for 30 years. We have oodles of info to share on this one. The bottom line is that, as per the Provincial Planning Statement (2024) policy 5.1.1, the proposed development will result in unacceptable risk to public health or safety or of property damage.
Q: Why does the local conservation authority, whose primary mandate is to prevent flood risks, now seem ready to ignore its own warnings and recommendations regarding this development?
A: We agree, it’s puzzling.
Q: Why is 2D hydrological flood modelling so important to the Town for their own planning, but not required for a development in a wetland?
A: Again, we have no clue.
But we’re going to find out. And we need your help.
As an official Party to the Ontario Land Tribunal the Watershed Trust has had some hard questions for the developer. For the Town of Collingwood. For the NVCA. And we won’t let this inferior 1D modelling stand, as it threatens Collingwood residents’ homes, not to mention precious Silver Creek Wetland habitat.
This is what the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust does. We protect our cherished wild places, and we prioritize the rights of residents over developers. For this particular fight, we’ve spent about $250,000 on 2D flood modelling, expert opinions and legal fees.
Your donation will protect a cherished wild place and Collingwood residents’ rights. We can’t allow land developers’ agendas to come before citizen protections.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
#1 Learn more at the information session:
Stop the Floods!!!
MEETING @ THE COLLINGWOOD LIBRARY ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 29TH @ 4 PM
What do Cranberry West, Silver Glen, The Forest, Blue Shores, Rupert’s Landing and other Collingwood neighbourhoods have in common?
Flooding!
Come learn from our experts
Come see the modelling, hear from our experts and get informed. Our analysis shows that in the event of a 100-year storm, the built development would cause floodwaters to inundate parts of Silver Glen, Cranberry West and Forest neighbourhoods. Please don’t miss this important meeting. Your property—and its value—could depend on the outcome.
Please RSVP: info@watershedtrust.ca
#2 Contact Town of Collingwood Council
Contact Town of Collingwood Council and let them know your thoughts. Call or write. Please send to the Town Clerk clerk@collingwood.ca and copy members of Town Council, asking that your letter be included in the Consent Agenda at the next Council meeting.
Collingwood Council Website
#3 Donate!
We are in dire need of funding to cover our significant costs to protect all of our neighbourhoods.
Thank you!
~ your local natural heritage stewardship team @watershedtrust