January 20, 2015
1602
Kincardine councillor Maureen Couture has been elected second vice-chairperson of Saugeen Conservation (Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority).
She joins new chairman Luke Charbonneau of Saugeen Shores, first vice-chairman Dan Kerr of Arran-Elderslie, and past-chairman Brian Gamble of Chatsworth, as the agency's executive, elected at the annual general meeting held Friday.
As a result of the recent municipal elections, Saugeen Conservation has nine new members on its board of 15.
"It's a good mix of the new enthusiastic board directors and experienced, dedicated returning members," said Wayne Brohman, general manager and secretary-treasurer. “We look forward to working with the new board as well as with our municipal partners.
"We will strive to balance the desire for new development in the watershed with the need to protect people and property from potential flood risk. We must be mindful to leave room for the river.”
Directors appointed to Saugeen Conservation are responsible for representing the interests of their constituents with respect to conservation and the well-being of their local environment.
Dick Hibma, chairman of Conservation Ontario, spoke to the board on the role of Conservation Authorities in Ontario and the accomplishments that have been realized since their beginnings in the late 1940s.
“Conservation Authorities have two main focuses,” he said, “the health and well-being of the natural environment on a watershed scale, and the prevention of loss of life and property damage due to flood and erosion processes. This is accomplished through preventative planning and the use of regulations.
"In effect, it’s keeping the people away from the rivers and the rivers away from the people. This approach to effective watershed management has gained the envy of other countries throughout the world, including Australia, Europe, Mexico and South America, where human encroachment into floodplain or low-lying areas has resulted in catastrophic losses throughout history.”
Hibma also stressed the role of Conservation Authorities in balancing the needs of the local environment with that of human needs. “It’s a real challenge sometimes but we have a responsibility to our future generations.”
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