The Committee held a round-table discussion to formulate goals and discuss the direction of the Committee for 2025. Ideas from Committee Members are as follows:
Mark Setter
- Look into the Town of Georgina's goals on electrical vehicle charging stations. Does the Town have plans for adding any further charging stations and if so, how will they decide on their locations? Can the GEAC be consulted for suggestions/direction?
- Have a speaker come from the Lake Simcoe and Region Conservation Authority to discuss phosphorous in Lake Simcoe.
- Arrange for various speakers to come and educate the Committee on various environmental concerns.
Austin Rooney:
- Lake Simcoe social media campaign or educational materials to educate those visiting Georgina on how to help mitigate the growth of invasive species.
- Organize community clean-ups, reaching out to the public for support.
- Promoting the creation of public bike repair stations along paths to promote green transportation along our various trails. Perhaps ask Council to look into potentially funding this initiative.
- Have a speaker come and provide the status of the fish stocking program where we can look into what the fish species/levels are at now compared to ten years ago, etc.
Councillor Dale:
- Focus on the health and well-being of Lake Simcoe. Have discussions and create initiatives that center around this resource.
- Look into boater culture within Georgina. Provide education materials to visitors as well as locals who use Lake Simcoe, to help maintain or enhance the health of Lake Simcoe.
Mary-Lynn Seeley:
- Address water pollution in Lake Simcoe by focusing on public education.
- How the community can integrate sustainable practices regarding the expansion of Georgina focusing on Lake Simcoe, forests, wild-life etc.
- It would be beneficial to direct some educational initiatives to youth and ensure the messages are getting to the next generation.
Councillor Neeson:
- Sending out advertisements or some other outreach to residents of Georgina regarding salt-pollution. Perhaps these educational pieces can be sent out in the tax/water bills to reach all residents.
- Subject to Council passing the redesign of Willow Beach via the 2025 budget, have the design be reviewed by the GEAC to provide some insight, recommendations and expertise.
- Partnering again with LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) to host a another community tree-planting initiative.
- Phosphorous pollution continues to be a big concern with Lake Simcoe and suggests that Development Services come with a presentation to the committee to discuss plans to mitigate these environmental concerns.
Staff member Alan Drozd noted that comments received tonight will be passed along to Staff. Development Engineering review is currently underway and Alan suggests that it may be beneficial for the consultant to provide a presentation of the Town's plans to the Committee.