Thunder Lake residents who have items on the reserve land surrounding the lake will find that they have been red flagged by the County of Barrhead.
That is what county manager Debbie Oyarzun said during her regular report to councillors June 5.
She said in the near future she plans to have the county's peace officers, which are contracted from Lac Ste. Anne County, “red flag” any items on municipal reserve lands that do not belong there. Residents will then be given a short time to move their items. If they don’t the county will store them, most likely at a designated area at the Barrhead and District Landfill where they can be claimed. If they are not they will be disposed of.
The action she said is because of the increasing number of complaints the county has received regarding area residents using public land as if it were an extension of their properties.
“Part of it is that not everyone has the same understanding of the rules, responsibilities and rights are of property owners and if an area is reserve land or bed and shore,” Oyarzun said.
Reserve lands are public land, in this case, controlled by the county, which provides a buffer between residential property and sensitive ecological areas.
Public Reserves Bylaw 50-85 governs what items and activities that are allowed on this 30 metre strip of land surrounding the lake.
Under the bylaw, it notes that no resident has ownership or exclusive rights to the use of reserve lands. It also notes that any landscaping, digging excavation, removal of trees and other vegetation or building on reserve lands is prohibited without first obtaining written approval from the county.
“Last year we sent out an information letter [to Tiger Lily and Thunder Lake residents] with detailed information about reserve lands and it helped, but we are still getting complaints about alleged inappropriate use of municipal reserve lands,” she said, adding although it has helped, from the complaints she received it seems there is still a lot of confusion among Thunder Lake residents. “Someone will file a complaint about something, but yet they have three infractions themselves.”
Oyarzun added had hoped to delay taking action until the province had completed its work on creating a more detailed set of policies and regulations regarding mooring
“This would set who, when what and where you could place permanent or temporary structures in the water,” she said, adding it doesn’t look like the policy is coming anytime soon. “In the meanwhile, we have to do something because I keep continually getting these complaints. By going through this inventory process in such a visible way, I am hoping people will see us flagging these inappropriate items and ask us questions so we can get some common understanding.”
Coun. Darrell Troock agreed, saying this has been an ongoing issue for the county and added just because an item is flagged doesn’t necessarily mean it will be removed.
He said the county has the authority to approve items or structures on municipal reserve lands.
“What I envision is that if someone has something like a fire pit that encroaches in all or in part on reserve lands, if they get permission from all their neighbours then we might grant the approval,” Troock said.
Oyarzun said it isn’t that simple, noting since it is public land the pit would have to be accessible to everyone, in addition, there is the issue of liability and who would be responsible for maintenance of the items.
“It isn’t straightforward, because there is history involved and new people coming in and out, it is going to be a challenge,” she said. “This is only the first step, then we can start having conversations, have an open house with the residents over there and let them become involved in finding solutions.”
