OMB gives support to Big Bay Point Resort
By Chris Simon

The Big Bay Point Resort is going ahead, for now.

The Ontario Municipal Board approved plans for the over 235-hectare Innisfil property last week, after a nearly four month hearing. Once built, the Kimvar Enterprises/Geranium Corporation owned resort will feature 1,600 residential housing units, 400 hotel rooms, a golf course, 1,000-slip marina, conference centre, theatre, an indoor sports, recreation and fitness facility and retail space.

"For economic reasons, this is a great decision for Innisfil and the County of Simcoe, but more importantly, it's also a great environmental victory for Lake Simcoe, and for those people who are truly committed to improving the quality of the Lake," said Geranium president Earl Rumm.

However, the project must still clear some legal blocks before construction can begin.

Opponents of the site have filed a judicial review with the OMB, asking for more consultation with First Nations groups. That review is expected to take place in February.

If opponents get there way, the review could overturn the OMB decision made last week.

Opponents have also argued the site will cause environmental damage to the lake's watershed.

But as part of the plan, Geranium will spend $10 million to extend sewer service from the Alcona Waste Water Treatment plant to the resort, giving 1,600 current property owners with septic systems an opportunity to switch to municipal services.

Although the resort must undergo an environmental assessment and participate in a sewage treatment pilot project before construction can begin, Innisfil mayor Brian Jackson says the OMB decision is a large step forward for the project.

"It's exciting there was closure to the decision," said Jackson. "It's gone on for a long time. The bottom line is when I'm out and about in the municipality, I still have a lot of very positive comments. It should have a positive financial impact from taxes, and a positive environmental impact on the lake.

It will increase service levels and put Innisfil on the (tourism) map. It's a pretty positive project."

The resort will also include an 87-hectare stretch of environmentally protected land, and the confinement of significant development to the eastern section of the property, said Rumm.

It will also be built to stringent Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, he said.

"Geranium looks forward to the upcoming consultations (regarding) the Lake Simcoe Act," said Rumm. "As environmentally progressive and responsible developers, we have led by example and will be encouraging both existing and future residents around the lake, as well as other developers, to walk the talk when it comes to protecting (the) lake."

The project has been approved by the county and Innisfil municipal governments, and is significantly scaled down from the original proposal made by the Geranium in 2002.

Upon completion, the resort will provide 940 permanent jobs, and several million dollars in economic spinoffs for the town and local businesses.

A lawyer representing opposition to the site did not return phone calls as of press time.