Silver Beach resident Rick Perkins said he was jumping for joy when demolition of the neighbouring Wigamog Inn property began in April 2023. Now, with work at the site paused for the past two years, he notes many residents of the mostly-retired community have had enough.
The property, owned by Aurora Group, has been slated for demolition since mid-2022, with workers tearing down about a dozen of the property’s 36 accessory buildings between April and June of 2023.
The project has been on pause since then, with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) following up on reports of at-risk species being found at the site. Last year, the ministry confirmed the presence of endangered bats and the eastern hog-nosed snake, notifying Aurora Group of the need for further environmental studies before work can proceed.
Perkins said the Silver Beach board has been following the story closely, hoping for a resolution. With little recent movement, he said their patience is wearing thin.
“The number one responsibility this board has is the financial viability, safety and wellbeing of this community. This issue with the Wigamog is starting to impact those things,” Perkins told The Highlander.
Silver Beach has 59 properties, most of them occupied by seniors. Perkins said some who had planned to stay for a short time before moving into long-term care, or elsewhere, are now running into trouble when trying to sell.
He said prices are down about 10 per cent compared to the market, with many wouldbe buyers concerned about the state of the Wig.
“It’s a mess and everyone can see it. There’s no escaping it – many owners, the first thing they see when walking out their front door, is a big pile of debris from buildings that were torn down and left to rot,” Perkins, who lives close to the property line along William James Court, said.
Jimmy Roberts, who resides in a townhouse on Webb Circle, said he’s worried about the possible contaminants he and other residents may have been exposed to.
The roof of the one lodge completely caved in [over winter]. What sort of stuff has that thrown into the air? There has to have been asbestos in there given the age of the building… the paint is lead-based, what’s that doing? We’re worried it could be leaching into the ground, our water supply, even the lake,” Roberts said.
Perkins noted the community is on a well system that goes through a water treatment facility before entering people’s homes.
With the pause attributed to the possible presence of at-risk bats and snakes, Perkins said some residents are starting to feel like second-class citizens.
“We feel we’ve been relegated to the lesser issue, below some at-risk species… to say the crumbling buildings can’t be touched because they might be – not are, might be – home to bats and a snake that’s very populous in the U.S., it’s a bitter pill for us to swallow.”
Taking action
The Silver Beach group recently sent letters to Dysart et al council and MPP Laurie Scott calling for either party to step in and speed-up demolition.
Dysart mayor Murray Fearrey said the township has been trying to get the property cleaned up. Prior to Aurora Group starting demolition in 2023, council advised staff to put out a tender of its own having been embroiled in years-long debate over the property’s condition. Last fall, council again tried to take over tear down efforts, directing staff to apply for special approval with MECP.
Bylaw officer Hailey Cole told The Highlander April 15 an application was not submitted, despite the paper reporting in its March 13 edition, following a report from Cole to council, that one had been denied.
“Apologies for the misunderstanding… I had indicated the steps needed to complete the application could not be accomplished within the timeframe we had to work with,” Cole said.
It was estimated clean-up could cost the municipality around $800,000.
MECP spokesperson Lindsay Davidson indicated the ball remains in Aurora Group’s court.
“In accordance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act and prior to demolition activities, the property owner is required to determine whether any species at-risk or their habitat exist at or near the proposed activity, and whether the proposed activity is likely to contravene the act.
“In addition, a waste audit and reduction work plan, and a source separation program, which identifies the various on-site waste streams and recycling, reuse, and/or disposal options are required under Ontario regulations and Environmental Protection Act,” Davidson said.
Scott said MECP staff visite the site in September 2024 “to assess conditions and identify no significant environmental concerns on or off-site.”
She noted the ministry has confirmed the township, via it’s property standards bylaw can remove standing debris from already torn down buildings.
Fearrey said council is considering next steps, with a recent development requiring legal input. He said he could not elaborate by press time. Efforts to reach Aurora Group for comment were unsuccessful.
