In response to the letters that have been written regarding the signage that has been installed at a number of public access points along the shoreline, including the public boat launch on Burma Road, I feel compelled to provide some information that may not have been considered by the authors of those letters. They obviously do not live next to such an area, or they would have a greater understanding of the problem.
As a person who does live next to a publicly owned fire lane that provides access to the lake for emergency vehicles in the event of a fire, I can speak first-hand about why such signs are necessary. Since moving to our new home three years ago we have had many, many experiences with visitors to the fire access at all hours of the night. In one instance we were awoken at midnight by fireworks being set off less that twenty feet from our home. Not only was it well past a reasonable hour to be doing such a thing but it was clearly in violation of all the fireworks guidelines set out in the Municipal By-laws. In addition, there was a strong onshore breeze that could easily have carried sparks and ignited our home and everything else along the shoreline.
We have routinely had people pull up at dusk with all manner of camping gear with the intention of setting up camp for the night, having bonfires in the woods, cooking dinner, partying, etc., regardless of the lack of washroom or any other facilities. On one occasion, in addition to the alcohol, fireworks and campfire wood, our nocturnal visitors brought along a set of large portable speakers.
I must confess I almost laughed out loud when I read in the most recent letter suggesting that to solve the problem of people trespassing on private property all that would be needed are clearer boundary markers. We have a large stone wall separating our property from the fire access lane and our property is clearly marked as private, yet I have looked out my dining room window to find people walking along our beach, enjoying their morning coffee on our dock, or simply enjoying the view from our waterfront.
In one instance someone trespassed on to our property to kill a harmless water snake. Adding insult to injury, the culprits used our Private Property sign to kill the defenceless reptile before smashing the sign to bits leaving us to clean up the mess.
Equally concerning is that even though there is now signage clearly marking the roadway to the shore as Fire Access and a No Parking Zone, many people must feel that the rules don’t apply to them as we routinely witness people launching their PWC, fishing boats, kayaks etc. and then departing for the day leaving their vehicles and trailers parked in the water or along the roadway right next to the No Parking sign. In the event of a fire, there is no way that emergency vehicles could get down to the water, not to mention the damage to the water quality and limestone rock shelves from the constant traffic.
While stargazing in itself is pretty harmless, it is disconcerting to have vehicles parked next to our home at all hours of the night not knowing whether their intent is star gazing or something more sinister, not to mention the fact that voices, laughter and slamming car doors carry for miles in our uber quiet environment.
While some people may feel that signs that set out the expectations for appropriate behaviour and suitable activities for public property along with the time that they should end is somehow an infringement on their rights as citizens, I would suggest that no one has the right to disturb the quiet enjoyment of a property owner, including those that live next to public access points. That is why we have noise bylaws and now we also have signs.
I understand that people that have been living here for years have been used to enjoying these pubic areas without any restriction, but the plain fact of the matter is that things have changed. Tourism is a double-edged sword and the increase in popularity of our area means that there are many, many more people visiting our region that either don’t understand, or don’t care about how to safely and responsibly enjoy what the Bruce Peninsula has to offer.
Marty Raymond and Eric Minster
