NEWS RELEASE
LAKE SIMCOE REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
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The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has officially taken possession of the 360 hectares (890 acres) of land, previously known as the Maple Lake Estates land.
Located within the Town of Georgina, the property is bound by Metro Road on the north, Woodbine Avenue on the east, Deer Park Road on the south and Varney Road on the west.
Originally approved for development in the 1980s, this is the single largest land transfer in the Lake Simcoe watershed and represents the culmination of over a decade of discussions involving the Conservation Authority, provincial government officials, the Town of Georgina, and the landowner.
“We thank the Province of Ontario for their strong commitment to protecting this land, for the time they invested in finding a solution to make this possible, and for their interest in growing the Greenbelt in a time when we know how important it is to protect forests and wetlands wherever possible,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson, Chair of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
He continued, “We especially want to acknowledge and thank Premier Doug Ford for his leadership, Minister Steve Clark for ensuring the preservation of this environmentally significant land, and Minister Caroline Mulroney for her steadfast support and role in making this happen.”
This significant acquisition comes with a great deal of responsibility and now that the land is under the Conservation Authority’s care, we will soon begin the process of assessing and evaluating its natural features and resident species, to figure out the best way to protect its environmental features and natural beauty.
Conservation Authority Chief Administrative Officer Rob Baldwin, stated, “We know that it will take time and great care to develop a comprehensive, long-term management plan and as part of that work, into the future, we will be seeking input from the Town of Georgina, Georgina Island First Nation, as well as the community.”
He concluded, “The Conservation Authority is thrilled to celebrate this final step in bringing this land into public ownership as part of our holdings so that it can be protected, restored, and enjoyed by many generations to come. We also look forward to realizing the many opportunities to ensure this land continues to contribute to the health of Lake Simcoe and the surrounding watershed.”
Our mission is to work with our community to protect and restore the Lake Simcoe watershed by leading research, policy, and action.
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