Pinelands Bay Nature Reserve established after year-and-a-half long fight

A long-awaited nature reserve in Port Carling has formally been established. The Pinelands Bay Nature Reserve is now underneath the safety of Muskoka Conservancy.

The 83-acre property consists of valleys, streams, and forest between Lake Joseph and Lake Rosseau, west of Peninsula Road.

The announcement comes after a yr and a half long fight by involved neighbours of the property to maintain the land in its pure state. According to Scott Young, Executive Director of Muskoka Conservancy, a developer had filed quite a few planning requests to construct on the property, finally promoting to the conservancy as a substitute after the neighbours fundraised greater than $1-million.

Young says it’s been a long fight.

“It went through an [Ontario Municipal Board] hearing, it was challenged by area residents, and was the subject of many, many hours of planning meetings, and great expense,” says Young. “The neighbours who lived around that area got a little fed up with constantly fighting against proposals from developers, and decided to take matters into their own hands, and in essence rescue the property from development.”

Young says a administration plan for the property continues to be within the works, however it’ll possible embrace forming mountain climbing trails. He says he’s thrilled the land is now underneath their safety.

“Now that it’s protected, it’ll remain in a natural state forever,” says Young. “And the neighbours, who were constantly in one fight after the next over the land, are able to sleep at night knowing there’s not going to be a big development right in the heart of their neighbourhood.”

Muskoka Lakes Council gave the property its ultimate approval with a zoning-bylaw modification at its Dec. fifteenth assembly. Young credit the neighbours for seeing it by to the tip.

“It’s not just about protecting what’s in their backyard, this actually translates to something bigger and better for the entire community,“ says Young. “Nature conservation is a win for everybody, and it’s just an honour to work with such a generous group of people that are willing to put themselves out there and generate a win like this.”