West Quebec Post Article: July 11, 2014

The West Quebec Post July 11 - 17,2014 Page 3~ •'ff3'7?'tW'f5?7-w:'

Murray charges Chelsea Council still dragging its feeton' Meech Lake residential shoreline protection

Reuel S.AmdurThe secretary of the Gatineau Park I

Protection Committee, Jean-Paul Murray;:criticized Chelsea Council at its July 7meeting. Murray protested Chelsea's cOQ::_--+'tinuing inaction in protecting the MeechLake shoreline. With 40% of the proper-ties violating the bylaw requiring a natur-al or naturalized buffer area at the shoreedge; Murray declared that Council'seducational approach is "not working."

Mayor Caryl Green responded thatChelsea is working on a case-by-casebasis. When the Post asked how thisapproach could address the massive viola-tion of the bylaw, she clarified that thecase-by-case reference was for illegallyconstructed structures in the buffer area.Where a.permit cannot be produced, thestructure Will need to be torn down.

The mayor spoke of a general educa- This photo was provided as an example of a residential construction that does not abide bytional effort being made. Last summer lakeshore regulations. PHOTO: JEAN-PAUL MURRAY

Gatineau overnight winter parkingregulations modifiedLaurent Robillard-Cardinal ~ ~

While winter parking is not something residents everlook forward to, new modified regulations in Gatineaushould alleviate the stress of certain vehicle-ownersduring next season's cold winter months.

On July 8!Gatineau modified the bylaw allowing dri-vers to park their vehicles overnight in the street if theyobtain a permit. A permit requires proof of residency,a piece of identification and $85.

The city adopted these measures to accommodateresidents with limited residential parking who pres-sured the city to act. However, parking in the street dur-ing snow removal operations will remain illegal.. As in neighbouring Ottawa, when Environment

Canada forecasts a snowfall of7 cm or more (5 to 10 cmincluded) for the Ottawa-Gatineau region, the city willmake announcements warning ~esidents not to park

Chelsea hired a student who went door-to-door along the shoreline to explain therequirement and the reason for it. Thepurpose is to protect the lake from conta-mination. Green also noted that Chelseahad made available shrubs and other veg- .etation for shoreline dwellers to install intheir border area.

That, said Murray, was in 2010. "Everyhousehold was given a package of infor-mation Iour iyears ago," said Murray."Then there were the visits by the studentlast summer. Yet,40% of the people arestill breaking the law today. I see peoplecutting the grass right to the edge."

Murray demanded to know whenChelsea intends to get serious aboutenforcement. Lack of enforcement couldput this lake at risk of pollution, he noted.

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;fiEBV.JEfi SEffl!llllIiJI'!!if2• lYous sommes ouuerts 12mois par annee• Vida"ge de fosse septique et fosse de retention• Pm de groupe• lYous nettoyons votre filtre lots de la vidange

• Weare open 12months a year• Emptying septic and holding tanks • Groupe rates

• Weclean your filter when emptyingN'ATIENDEZ PAS QUE ~!Une fosse septique utilisee de facon ANNUELLE doit etre vidangeeune fois tous les DEUX ANS afin d'eviter le debordement des eaux.

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