Objection to a fixed link

I am actively participating in the ongoing process strongly opposing a fixed link of any kind between Georgina Island and the south shore of Lake Simcoe.

My comment stems from being a 63 year cottager (3rd generation) on the south shore of lake simcoe. I witnessed first hand the effects of years of the Government dumping truck loads of sand into lake Simcoe at Sibbald point.  The wave effect or 'long shore current' (look up the definition) brough so much sand around the east point of the park that it filled in 2 privately owned boat houses, shoreline and dock areas and created a new point of land.

There was a law suit determining that the government was held liable. The spent millinons of dollars and most of one summer with large cranes filling truck load after truck load of sand to remediate the disturbed shoreline east of the park.  The governments solution to reduce this problem was to erect 2 x 150 stone piers or groins out into the lake. This reduced the problem but did not eliminate it. I believe they still dump sand in smaller quantities to keep the beech useable. The shore line east of the park and the lake bottom however are still always changing due to the westerly winds.

The point of my comment is even notionally allowing the installation of a 2 km bridge, causeway, levy (call it whatever you like) between Sibbald Pint and Virginia Beech will so negatively disrupt the lake eco system and shoreline no amount of remediation will ever solve the problem. Erecting a bridge on piers (say Confederation Bridge) would eliminate this potential but cost billions, and as such not viable.

The area west of the sauseway will fill in with silt (it happened before) and become a swampy mess due for the inability of the lake bottom to move east and west with the winds.

I strongly urge the Impact Assessment group to DEMAND a FULL SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT before another stone is turned - or dumped into the lake.

The Band continues to refuse to even consider other cheaper more environmentally advantageous options. This monstrosity, should it ever be permitted to proceed at all will forever change the face of the Lake never to be recovered again.

Respectfully Submitted,

Donald D Ross

Lee Far, Sutton West Ontario