(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
In a recorded vote, Alnwick-Haldimand Council decided against the request made at Tuesday’s council meeting by Keewatin Drive resident Lauri Maitland on behalf of the Nauwatin Nature Sanctuary.
Matiland was hoping council would not proceed with plans to amalgamate the Nauwautin Advisory Committee with the Recreation, Culture and Community Development Advisory Committee as a unified Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Her concern is that the condition of the sanctuary – already in dangerous disrepair – will be lost amid the concerns of the township’s other parks and recreation facilities.
Maitland updated council on conditions at the sanctuary on the Lake Ontario shoreline – which did well until March 2020, she said, when the original Nauwatin Sanctuary Association disbanded after almost 20 years and left the responsibility for its maintenance and upkeep to the township.
She submitted an April 2022 report termed Nauwautin Nature Sanctuary – Areas of Concern that detailed invasive flora and fauna, algae blooms and shoreline erosion.
“It was never acted upon by council. Those concerns are still there today,” she said.
“The park is falling into a state of disrepair. Invasive weeds are more prevalent. The walking paths are inaccessible for a stroller and not overly accessible for normal walking.”
Fallen trees, branches at risk of falling (“widow makers”) and deteriorating structures pose further risk, she added.
Previous assurances by staff and council have not resulted in action, leaving residents to take the initiative to address such dangerous conditions as removing fallen branches and clearing out poison-ivy patche.
When more than 100 people flocked there to see last year’s eclipse, she added, these volunteers cleaned up after they left.
It’s gone beyond the minimum attention being paid to the area when staff occasionally cut the grass. And along with signs of becoming ecologically unhealthy, the sanctuary is beginning to pose a liability to the township.
To refer this to a larger amalgamated committee is not likely to improve matters, Maitland stated.
“That would be 12 people with a vast amount of responsibility under their umbrella. The sanctuary needs a designated committee to decide for only the unique needs of that park,” she said.
“You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We know what works.
“We need a committee based and focused on these unique needs if there is any hope of seeing change.”
In later debate of the issue, asked for his opinion of Maitland’s concerns, Chief Administrative Officer Dave Dawson said, “The presentation was spot on and extremely truthful.”
Councillor Mike Ainsworth argued that this new amalgamated committee would be a transparent body that could take on some of the work staff members are now doing, freeing up that resource for other duties.
And, as sometimes happens in committees, new ideas may emerge that are to the benefit of everyone.
In the recorded vote, only Councillors Greg Booth and Mary Catherine O’Neill opposed the committee amalgamation.
