Notice of Master Plan

The Process

The study was undertaken according to Master Planning process Approach #1 as set out in the Municipal
Engineer Association Class Environmental Assessment (March 2023).   This approach involved the preparation of a
Master Plan document at the conclusion of Phase 1 and 2 of the Class Environmental Assessment process.

Project Overview

The Town of Saugeen Shores' surface water drainage system is complex.  It includes overland sheet flow,
natural water courses, municipal drains, tile drains, ditches, culverts, and storm sewers.  Certain areas occasionally experience drainage issues and, with recent and planned land development, the Town wants to better understand these systems.

Drainage within the Town primarily flows either to the Saugeen River or to Lake Huron.  The Study Area is bound
by the municipal limits and is subdivided into the following main Drainage Study Areas, as shown on the Key Plan:

• Area 1: Southampton North of the River
• Area 2: Southampton South of the River
• Area 3: Port Elgin
• Area 4: Rural Areas

The Master Drainage Plan (the Plan) is a living document and will help identify and plan individual
projects consistent with a comprehensive drainage strategy. This system-wide approach allows the Town to assess which options will address the needs of the Town’s drainage system and to comprehensively plan within the Study Area.

Further, the Plan identifies specific projects with suggested timelines. The Master Drainage Plan should
be reviewed and updated every 5 years.  The Plan includes the development and assessment of alternative solutions to identified deficiencies within component catchment areas (or subcatchments), with a Recommended Solution(s) for each area. The Plan's intent is a broad assessment that identifies projects exempt (or eligible for exemption) from the Environmental Assessment Act and that can support projects that require more detailed project-specific investigations to fulfill the requirements for Schedule B or Schedule C projects.

Public Consultation

Public consultation gives citizens an opportunity to review the project, share information and provide
comments.

The Town held a second Public Information Centre (PIC No.2) for this project on October 4th,
2023.   As part of the consultation efforts, the Town circulated a Master Drainage Plan (Version 2) for review and comment. 

Starting December 5th, 2023, the public can review the updated Master Drainage Plan (Version 3 – Draft).  This has been updated to address submitted public comments.  You can also find a copy of Plan at the Town Office.

Click HERE to see the plan.  

Comments

The public is encouraged to provide written comments to the Project Team by January 12th, 2024.

To submit comments -- or for more information and/or accommodations -- please contact one of the Project Team members listed below.  Council will receive the Master Drainage Plan with those comments for approval.

With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

This Notice is also posted in the Shoreline Beacon.  It was first issued on December 5th, 2023.  All personal information included in a comment or request (i.e., name, address, phone and property location) is collected, under the authority of Section 30 of the Environmental Assessment Act and is maintained for the purpose of creating a record that is available to the general public. As this information is collected for the purpose of a public record, the protection of personal information provided in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) does not apply (s.37).  Personal information submitted may become part of a public record that is available to the general public unless it is requested that personal information remain confidential.