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Development News

 

Midhurst Village / Minesing Wetlands Proposal

 

 

Located west of Barrie, plans to develop the village of 3,500 into a city of 28,000 people (roughly about the size of Orillia) are controversial.  The local residents are upset because the development would destroy the small town way of life as well as encompass 1,700 acres of prime farmland.  They are worried that the sewage requirements for so many people would ruin the internationally significant Minesing wetlands, downstream of the tiny Willow Creek, which would be modified to handle 10,600,000 litres of effluent per day. 

 

The Minesing Wetlands is where the Mad and Pine rivers meet with the Nottawasaga River, head towards Wasaga Beach and ultimately empty into the Georgian Bay.  This 7,000 hectare site comprises land holdings of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, the Government of Ontario, County of Simcoe and numerous private landowners.  The Minesing Wetlands is one of the largest intact wetlands in southern Ontario and provides habitat for a large variety of flora and fauna.

 

The Midhurst Secondary Plan (MSP) was approved by Springwater Council in 2008 and accepted by the County of Simcoe in 2011.  The Province of Ontario appealed the plan to the Ontario Municipal Board, because it violated many of the planning principles in the Places to Grow Act.  However, the province has since passed Amendment One, which modifies the planning principles to allow such vast developments.

 

The October 2014 municipal election changed the voice of Springwater Township to protect rather than develop the area. (article)

 

On May 16, 2016, Simcoe County backed by Springwater Township, turned down 5 of 6 development proposals.  (article)

 

On September 30, 2016, Simcoe County announced approval of a behind closed doors deal for 3,000 new residents. (article)  Bill French, Mayor of Springwater Township, was “shocked and dismayed”.  (article)

 

 

 

 

News (reverse chronological order)

 

Date

Source

Title

Comment

2016-10-25

Barrie Examiner

Midhurst Ratepayers Association still objects

Bob Bruton

2016-10-07

CTV News (Barrie)

Midhurst housing dispute won’t go before OMB

 

2016-10-07

Barrie Examiner

Wait and see at the OMB

Cheryl Browne

2016-10-07

CTV News

Community group, Springwater officials upset with Midhurst growth plan

Roger Klein

2016-10-05

Barrie Today

Midhurst decision saves taxpayers cash, restricts sprawl, developers say

Laurie Watt

2016-10-01

AWARE Simcoe

Friday October 7: OMB hearing re Midhurst (when we find out what’s really going on we’ll let you know)

Kate Harries

- OMB hearing date discrepancy?

2016-09-30

Barrie Examiner

Warden mum on Midhurst land deal

Bob Bruton

2016-09-30

Barrie Examiner

Development deal irks township mayor

Cheryl Browne

2016-09-30

Simcoe County

Statement - Population Allocation in Springwater

Warden Gerry Marshall

2016-09-29

AWARE-Simcoe.ca

Betrayal!’ County reverses decision, makes deal with Midhurst developers

 

2016-09-29

Comment

Simcoe County Council goes behind closed doors to broker a deal with developers for 3,000 new residents when levels had already been publically agreed in May

Media Release

2016-06-21

Change.org

Petition Update:  Can You Believe it?

Midhurst Ratepayers’ Association

2016-05-26

Barrie Examiner

Springwater officials pleased growth plans cutback

Cheryl Browne

2015-12-28

Change.org

Petition:  Urgent Action Alert

- fundraising

2015-05-27

Friends of Midhurst

Petition:  Close the Loopholes

 

2014-10-24

Toronto Star

Development plan divides Simcoe County village

Rachel Mendleson

2014-10-06

Township of Springwater

Premier Wynne Will Not Review the Midhurst Secondary Plan

 

2014-06-25

Youtube / SaveMidhurstVillage

Video:  Margaret Atwood Speech – Celebration of Rural Living (18 mins)

 

2014-06-23

Simcoe.com

Focusing growth in Barrie best, Margaret Atwood tells Midhurst crowd

Laurie Watt

2014-06-22

Bayshore Broadcasting

Atwood Lends Support to Rally

audio story

2014-06-22

Food & Water First

Margaret Atwood: Protecting Land & Water

 

2014-06-20

Simcoe.com

Atwood headlines Midhurst fundraiser

 

2014-03-20

Global News

Ontario community feels expansion is a step back (2 mins)

 

2014-02-14

Simcoe.com

Author pledges aid to protect Midhurst from sprawl

Laurie Watt

- Margaret Atwood

2013-07-02

Youtube

Video:  Meet Midhurst (3 mins)

 

2013-06-20?

Change.org (Petition)

Petition:  Save our farms and water sources from mega-development

Midhurst Ratepayers’ Association

2013-06-15

AWARE Simcoe

“Staff crossing line”:  Marshall questions OMB motion to turf Midhurst ratepayers

 

 

 

 

For more information:

 

Opposition: 

 

Midhurst Ratepayers’ Association (savemidhurstvillage@gmail.com)

www.stopspringwatersprawl.com

www.facebook.com/SaveMidhurstVillage

www.twitter.com/SaveMidhurstNow / @SaveMidhurstNow / #SaveMidhurst

www.friendsofmidhurst.ca

 

 

See also:

Friends of the Minesing Wetlands http://minesingwetlands.ca

 

 

 

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Disclaimer: This information has been compiled through private amateur research for the purpose of allowing the reader to make an informed and educated decision.  However, while the information is believed to be reliable, accuracy cannot be guaranteed.


 

APPENDICES

 

http://awareontario.nfshost.com/AWARE-Ontario/Issues/Dev_Midhurst/Midhurst%20Village.htm