With an increasing number of boats mooring in the waters off Port Sydney beach, the Town of Huntsville is considering ways to manage the volume.
The matter was brought before Huntsville’s General Committee on July 28 by Councillor Jason FitzGerald.
“Things seem to be getting a little bit out of control,” said FitzGerald. In addition to the number of boats, concerns he’s heard from constituents and visitors to the beach include safety, possible effect on water quality, and restricted access to shore. “It seems there’ve been some incidents where boats have come loose, boats are sometimes infringing on the swimming areas which I believe we need to make a little bit larger.”
In discussion with the Town’s director of operations and protective services, Steve Hernen, FitzGerald said they’d determined the Town should consider removing all of the existing anchors “because some of them are inappropriate to be in the water, some are dangerous, and some are simply just not adequate to do the job they’re trying to do.”
He suggested there be 25 to 30 mooring spots provided by the Town with proper, safe anchors. “I don’t know how we allot those spots to users, whether it’s a lottery, it’s a request, do we ask them to cover the cost of the anchors, do we have a yearly fee associated with it? I know it’s just a situation we need to address because it’s just exacerbating safety at the beach.”
Boats are moored to both sides of Port Sydney beach
In response to a question from Councillor Tim Withey, FitzGerald said he isn’t aware of any boats moored there for the purpose of access to a water-access-only property. “In that instance, I believe that we definitely allot spaces to those people who do have that requirement, rather than just to the general public,” he said, adding that he believes there is a marina that provides that service.
Councillor Bob Stone said the idea to limit the number of boats makes a lot of sense. “There’s boats moored right next to the swimming area and I think it does become dangerous. If we could get them to the other side, that would be wonderful.”
Stone added that he would like to see a cost-recovery method, such as monthly or annual rental fees, if the Town decides to put in slips.
FitzGerald added that docking may be among the proposed solutions, but “the Town doesn’t necessarily want to be in that business, so it would be a partnership similar to Avery Beach and the docks by the Summit Centre where a private partner initiates the cost of the docking and shares a percentage [of rental fees]with the Town.”
Staff have been directed to report back to committee with possible solutions for the 2022 boating season.
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Craig Nakamoto says
Pretty sure council tried this in the recent past and was met with so much opposition, that it was dropped. I might be mistaken. In any event, there have been boats next to the swimming area for over 30 years, mine included. I have been boating, swimming and fishing there my entire life and my Dad had a boat in the same spot before I was born. I have never seen any problems. That being said, there are more boats every year and some are being placed too close to existing boats. As much as I don’t like it, some control may be required due to a lack of common sense.
Merrill Perret says
It might be prudent for everyone involved in this discussion and any subsequent decisions to familiarize themselves with the 2019 Canadian Navigable Waters Act, which governs “navigable waters” in Canada. Mary Lake, Fairy Lake, and the North Branch of the Muskoka River that joins them are listed as “navigable waters” and, as such, fall under the jurisdiction of Transport Canada. The Act applies to everyone, including industry, all levels of government and the public, who is:
-an owner of work(s) on navigable waters;
-interfering with navigation in Canadian navigable waters; and/or
-planning something that will affect navigation in navigable waters.
(Moorings in navigable waters fall under this Act, as “minor works.”)
The Navigation Protection Program (NPP) helps keep Canada’s navigable waters open for transport and recreation.
It would seem that the waters off Port Sydney beach are not subject to the whim of boaters or councillors: both parties have clear obligations under the Act.
Tim Barsotti says
Nobody owns the land under the water. So Nobody should be charging any fees to anchor a boat there . Do the Marinas pay a fee to anchor docks all season? I think if everyone is using common sense and has a boat licence and insurance leave them be.
Andre jolin says
Another step in turning our public waters and water access into gated private communities for the benefit of those who own property nearby, just like the resident only parking and outrageous boat launch fees being put in place on lake Simcoe. We ALL own the waterways in Ontario and we should be constantly on guard against efforts to limit public access. If local residents want exclusive access to entire public lakes, their property taxes should be exponentially higher to reflect this extremely valuable asset they’ve claimed for themselves.
Nancy Long says
Another indication that water front access is paramount to residents, both seasonal and permanent. The Town of Huntsville government needs to step up with a plan for more parks and access to water for recreation. However, I would caution against a Huntsville Town Dock approach. It’s tragic that there is no access there for non-boaters.
Susan Bobyk says
My concern is if you remove the moorings from the far side of the Port Sydney Town Dock (not the swim side) then I think you will see a lot more congestion down in the parking lot with people having to bring their boats in by trailers. There will be line ups to put boats in. This would block the entrance way. Where do you think they are going to leave their trailers? In the parking lot of course. So I’d be careful what you wish for. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have waterfront. I feel that the Port Sydney tax payers should have first choice of mooring their boats if a licensing system is set up. But don’t forget that they are already paying taxes to the Town. No lottery. Sometimes we get tire of being told what to do down here. Maybe let the local people decide.
JASON FITZGERALD says
I am very pleased to see such an engaged community and all the responses to the article.
Town staff were directed to come back with a report specifically on how to remove dangerous and environmentally threatening mooring anchors, and come up with some reasonable solution to provide docking or mooring of approximately 30 vessels.
Certainly there will be ample opportunity for public input.
In fairness to all taxpayer’s who do not Moor boats there, I do not feel it should be a tax supported endeavour.
By the way I personally have had a boat moored there for 8 years.
Allen Markle says
Some stuff is a lot more interesting than other stuff and when I started to look at some of the info on this topic of boat mooring, this is really ‘other stuff’.
There was the comment made that ‘nobody owns the land under the water’. But if you look in the ‘flooded lands’ section of a 1991 report by the Canadian Bar Association on Natural Boundary Retracement in Ontario, you may find reason for a different conclusion.
Councilor Fitzgerald made a comment that, with regard to boat mooring, the town would prefer a ‘partnership’ arrangement like at the Summit Center and Avery Beach. I’ve often wondered if these ‘partnerships’ are offered for tender or if they are in perpetuity and the type of arrangement that might be sold or included in an inheritance.
He also mentioned that he has had ‘a boat moored there (the article refers to Port Sydney) for 8 yrs.’ Would this mean there is a conflict of interest with his involvement in ‘ coming up with some reasonable solution’?
Nancy Long says
I wonder what the rules are about mooring a boat? Can you do it at any park or beach area?