Rideau Lakes cottagers fighting potential campground expansion
Along the sought after shores of Big Rideau Lake sits the Waterways Resort Campground.
The owners of the site are looking to grow, but nearby waterfront and cottage owners are fighting against it.
Hansen Downer is retired and lives on Big Rideau Lake, in the Township of Rideau Lakes, and says earlier this year the campground’s ownership group, Summerhill Resorts, outlined plans to double in size.
"It’s a small resort of 150 campsites," says Downer of Waterways Resort, near Portland, Ont. "They told us on February the 9th in a Zoom meeting with 60 people that they were going to expand it to 300 sites."
Downer, along with his group of 60 lake residents, says an expansion of that size could not be supported within their community and would also disrupt their way of life.
"That’s why a lot of people have bought out here, because of the peace and tranquility," says Downer. "Three-hundred campsites, which would be 900 people, on 80-acres of land will basically destroy that."
Summerhill Resorts bought the Waterways Resort campground back in 2019, which is one of eleven campgrounds owned by the company across Ontario. In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, Summerhill Resorts COO Paul Johnson says they believe the motives behind locals fighting the expansion are not as genuine as they may seem.
"We are in essence asking wealthier members of the community to share the natural beauty of Big Rideau Lake with everyday people," writes Johnson. "Not surprisingly, that doesn’t sit well with some of the people that are fortunate enough to own waterfront property."
When asked about the main issue with a possible expansion of the campground, Downer provided two main points.
"We’re very concerned about the impact of that density on the ecology in the area; the underground water supply, the possible pollution in the lake," the long-time lake resident said. "Is that what you think about when you think about relaxing in a country atmosphere, 900 people in 80-square acres? In our view it just isn’t acceptable. It isn’t in keeping with the rural environment that we have in Rideau Lakes Township."
When asked about a potential expansion of Waterways Resort, Johnson said no formal application or proposal has been submitted to the township, with environmental reports and assessments still needing to be completed.
"Realistically, we are several months if not years away from beginning an expansion at waterways even if we are granted the approvals required to increase the number of sites," writes Johnson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.