Let's welcome Big Bay Point Resort
Comment
by Chris Simon

Now that most of the hurdles have been cleared, residents should welcome last week's Ontario Municipal Board approval of Big Bay Point Resort.

After five years and millions of government dollars spent on consultations, surveys and legal fees, the Kimvar Enterprises/Geranium Corporation project finally received approval Friday. It's not the last step before construction can begin, since opponents have already filed a judicial review on the matter, but there's a good chance the resort will eventually proceed.

Once complete, the resort will feature 1,600 residential units, 400 hotel rooms, a 1,000 slip marina, golf course, conference centre, theatre, an indoor sports, a recreation and fitness facility and retail space.

Although opponents have argued the resort will cause environmental damage to the Lake Simcoe watershed, there's also evidence to suggest the exact opposite. Geranium will be spending $10 million to extend municipal sewer services to the resort, giving about 1,600 property owners access to government water treatment facilities in the area.

The resort also includes an 87-hectare stretch of environmentally protected land, and will be built to high Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

And in a growing and job-starved town like Innisfil, the resort will provide several important economic benefits. The resort will create 940 permanent jobs, making it the largest employer in the town. During construction, 3,600 personyears in employment will be generated, as will $1.2 million in permit fees and $17.7 million in municipal and school development charges.

Resort operators also estimate a $50 million boom to the local economy, with the purchase of appliances and furniture by residents, once units start selling.

Property owners and tourists are also expected to spend about $35 million in the area each year.

But there are other benefits as well. The recreation centre, marina and other public facilities will give town residents more to do, without having to travel to Barrie. In a lot of ways, the resort has the opportunity to become a waterfront destination, available and easily accessible to all residents of region.

The resort will help improve transportation in the area, with a main collector road running through the resort. Recently, several members of town council expressed concerns over safety in the Big Bay Point area. Adding another route into the Point will help reduce traffic volume and safety concerns.

Of course, the concerns of site opponents are fair. They believe First Nations groups were not adequately consulted on the site, suggesting it may have historical significance. Opponents have also said that logically, so much development along the lakeshore will have an environmental impact on the area.

However, the town, county and provincial governments have all given the project approval, and obviously feel comfortable with construction plans. Archaeologists have reviewed the site, and believe it is not historically significant. And many of the environmental impacts should be offset by the positive measures resort operators will be taking.

Innisfil needs sustainable employment, local entertainment and residential units. This resort will give residents reasons to stay, and tourists reasons to visit.