Clarington Council has received the final draft of the Waterfront Strategy for its 34 kilometres of waterfront along Lake Ontario.
No future timelines or projected costs were revealed in the announcement.
Clarington launched a 30-year Waterfront Strategy in 1992, to improve public access and increase land ownership along the lakefront. On March 9, the draft was presented at the municipality’s planning and development committee meeting.
The draft earmarks five separate development areas in Courtice, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Agricultural Heritage Areas and Port Granby Nature Reserve.
Courtice Waterfront Park will be a new events and commercial hub with waterfront living. It will be an economic hub with prestige and green industries and employment intertwined with environmental features, public open spaces, streets and trails and a new municipal wide park.
Bowmanville Waterfront will be nestled around significant environmental features, improved shoreline resilience, two enhanced waterfront parks; main beaches, passive and active water programs, and a boat launch.
Newcastle Waterfront will become a marina village bordering natural areas, improved shoreline resilience, enhanced existing municipal wide park, beaches, passive and active water programs, and a boat launch.
Agricultural Heritage Areas concept aims to create an agricultural heritage hub with food production traditions, agri-tourism, environmental stewardship, and public access with rest stops, lookouts and passive activities / events, and open spaces.
Port Granby Nature Reserve will be a new nature reserve and public access with trails, lookouts and passive programming. It includes environmental education and stewardship. The concept has been endorsed by the council.
With the waterfront strategy Clarington aims to:
- Enhance public access to green spaces and the lakefront
- Preserve the natural environment to strengthen shoreline resilience and biodiversity
- Support thoughtful growth with high-quality parks and amenities
- Promote year-round recreation and tourism opportunities
- Celebrate the unique character of the waterfront communities located along our 34-km shoreline
You May Also Wish To Read
Woman charged for crashing into firefighters at collision site