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Council set to close Big Bay Point road access to Lake Simcoe

'People who live there can’t use it because of the ice fishermen and the people who are abusing it,' says councillor
2020-06-04BigBayPointMK
The end of Big Bay Point Road, at Lake Simcoe. Miriam King/Innisfil Today

The Town of Innisfil owns 46 public rights-of-way and easements that lead to Lake Simcoe.

All of the properties are small, but they are important in providing lake access to residents, the town’s 2016 Parks and Recreation Master Plan noted.

In adopting the Master Plan, council also embraced a strategy that will include improvements to some of the road ends, and the closure and sale of others.

To date, the town has made road-end improvements at the Gilford Road, Shoreacres Drive, and currently, Line 9.

Next on the list is Big Bay Point Road.

The road end has been described as “a unique viewpoint and a great spot to sit and enjoy the view of Lake Simcoe.” There is a sandy beach, used by residents in summer – but in winter, the road end has become an access point for ice anglers to drive onto the ice, creating issues that include parking, and the garbage left behind.  

A staff report to Innisfil Council on June 3 noted that late in 2019, area residents were contacted and invited to participate in an online survey, on the Get Involved Innisfil website.

Sixty-nine percent of those who provided input called on the town to close the road end to traffic, enlarge the beach area, and ban parking, with or without the addition of a small play area for children.

The report recommended that improvements at the Big Bay Point road end include the hiring of a consultant to design an improved space – with bollards or rocks blocking the road, the addition of benches and picnic tables, additional sand, new plantings, and an accessible trail to the water.

New signage would indicate that there is no access for ice anglers – redirecting them to either Line 9, where access is permitted, or to nearby 30 Sideroad.

Cost of the improvements is expected to fall within the $349,800 budget approved for 2020.

Deputy Mayor Dan Davidson supported the proposed work.

“Sixty-nine percent of people would like something to happen with that road end,” he said, noting that it’s not only ice fishers, but people attempting to launch their boats from the road end that have been creating issues.

Last weekend, someone attempted to launch a 26’ boat, he said. “Not only did the boat not make it, the truck ended up in the water."

Davidson did express some concern over the extensive tree cutting that has already taken place, but was told that the trees removed were either dead or infested with Emerald Ash Borer. The trees were removed in March, to avoid interfering with the nesting of migratory birds.

Coun. Carolyn Payne warned that blocking the Big Bay Point Road end will just push parking and ice anglers, to other areas, including 30 SR and Minnetonka Road.

“People who live there can’t use it because of the ice fishermen and the people who are abusing it,” Payne said.

Coun. Donna Orsatti pointed out that some of the ice anglers are actually Innisfil residents who don’t have the “luxury” of living on the water.

Meredith Goodwin, Capital Project Manager, explained that the trees cut down will be replaced, as part of the project, and signage will direct ice anglers to the 30 SR docks.

Jason Inwood, Manager of Operations, agreed that there can be “unintended consequences,” but noted that there is a “longer term strategy” that will support access to the lake for both boating and ice fishing.  

As for parking, Inwood noted that the road end is “just down the road from the Guest Road parking lot,” there is some parking available at 30 SR, and there is also parking for Innisfil residents in the area.

“There is ample parking for the cars, all the way up the road,” agreed Davidson, as council received the report, and voted to direct staff to install signage and barriers restricting access for ice fishing at the Big Bay Point Road End.


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Miriam King

About the Author: Miriam King

Miriam King is a journalist and photographer with Bradford Today, covering news and events in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil.
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