There’s growing public outcry over a decision by the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) to close a popular spot for swimming in West Grey.
The SVCA recently announced the closure of the Varney Pond on its website. General Manager Jennifer Stephens says they have been undergoing a review of all SVCA properties and structures.
“There are a number of safety concerns, including unrestricted access to the pond, there is an unstaffed swimming area and concerns regarding the jumping off structure,” Stephens explains. “There is also a growing public awareness and understanding of the inherent risks associated with all bodies of water.”
“The decision to close the pond was not made lightly and while the news may come as a surprise, we have been undergoing an in-depth review of the pond for quite some time,” she continues.
Stephens adds there are concerns with how the pond has a history of being fed by Camp Creek, which she says is not a sustainable method and they are interested in the long term protection of the environment.
Some local residents aren’t happy. There’s an online petition calling on the conservation authority to change course and re-open the pond. It has more than 1,600 supporters so far.
The history of the property is also in dispute. Varney resident Linda Blasing claims her grandfather sold it to the SVCA in the 1950s for $1, with the stipulation it remains open for public swimming.
“We are really ticked off that they’ve done this and didn’t give anybody a heads up,” says Blasing. “In my view, I think they went about it all wrong. They should have contacted the villagers here that use it and ask them what their thoughts were on it, because nobody down here agrees with anything that they are doing because this pond has never, ever been closed.”
Stephens, however, insists the land was sold for a higher price to the SVCA and with no stipulations. She also says she is aware of the petition.
“We would be surprised if there wasn’t a petition. The fact that there is a petition shows that the pond is quite frankly a beloved part of the community and we respect that the pond is well-liked by the community,” Saugeen Conservation’s general manager says.
Stephens acknowledges the SVCA did not consult with residents before closing the pond, saying they knew it was going to be a very unpopular decision to make. She says as Saugeen Conservation owns the pond, they are putting the safety of people and environmental concerns of the watershed at the forefront of their decision making process.
When asked about future plans to reopen the pond and what steps are needed to do so, Stephens reiterates it is closed until further notice and no further decision has been rendered yet, as they are only in the investigative phase while looking at potential options.
“With the pond empty, further evaluations can take place now and when there is a path forward, it will be shared with the community,” says Stephens.