This project consists of the development of two separate studies, a Water and Wastewater Master Plan for Tobermory and a Water and Wastewater Master Plan for Lion’s Head. Both studies are being led by the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula (NBP), with support from the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), and a Consultant (WSP). The two studies are following the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) process.

The Water and Wastewater Master Plan studies will make long-term recommendations on how Tobermory and Lion’s Head can improve existing services and identify new opportunities for municipal water and wastewater services. The recommendations will consider existing conditions, projected population and employment growth and climate risks that may be experienced over the next several decades.

Existing drinking water and wastewater services within the communities of Tobermory and Lion’s Head are not meeting the current needs of the population. In particular, Tobermory has limited drinking water supply service and sanitary sewer and wastewater treatment facilities. Meanwhile, the Lion’s Head Drinking Water System currently provides limited servicing and has no wastewater service or wastewater treatment facilities.

The Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula is responsible for the management of a number of facilities for public use and seeks to maintain these facilities for accessible and reliable services for residents and visitors. As the areas of Tobermory and Lion’s Head welcome new visitors and residents, there is a need to upgrade or expand, and potentially introduce new municipal water and wastewater services. The Water and Wastewater Master Plans are being developed for the two communities to explore possible alternative solutions to meet these needs.

The Master Plan studies are being conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class EA document (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011, 2015, 2023 and 2024). This is a streamlined planning process for municipal infrastructure projects approved under the provincial Environmental Assessment Act. This process enables the comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impacts of a project and identifies appropriate mitigation measures, where required. The Act requires that the proponent engage with Indigenous Communities, the public and stakeholder groups, and regulatory agencies throughout the planning and design process, and document how the input received has been considered.

Figure 1 outlines the five phases of the Class EA process. The Master Plan studies follow Phases 1 and 2 of the Class EA process. Phase 1 consists of identifying and describing the problem or opportunity that the Master Plans are addressing, and Phase 2 includes the identification and development of broad alternative solutions and the selection of the preferred approach, based on existing conditions and consultations. There is a mandatory consultation step during Phase 2 where study findings will be presented for public review and comment.

The Master Plan studies will recommend a set of routine or complex infrastructure works that the Municipality can implement over the long-term in order to achieve the preferred approach. The Master Plan studies will identify the best approach based on a set of criteria and the various projects that are required. The Master Plan studies outcomes may include a list of new studies that the Municipality should undertake following further detailed investigations and documentation i.e. studies identified as Schedule B and C Class EA’s. Further investigations would include a detailed inventory of the environment, impacts assessment and development of mitigation measures, in accordance with the Class EA process.

Upon completion of the Master Plan studies, reports will be prepared to document the process undertaken and identify the broad preferred alternatives. A Notice of Study Completion will be issued, and the Master Plan Reports for Tobermory and Lion’s Head will be released to the public online for a 30-day public comment period. If there are concerns raised during the 30-day comment period that cannot be resolved through discussions with OCWA and the Municipality, a request may be made to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to issue a Section 16 Order solely on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. The Minister may issue an order requiring further study, imposing additional conditions, or requiring an individual environmental assessment.

The Master Plan studies for Tobermory and Lion’s Head will be targeting a completion of end of 2025, early 2026.

The preferred servicing approach identified in the Master Plan studies will support the short- and long-term water and wastewater servicing needs for Tobermory and Lion’s Head. The Master Plan studies may identify specific projects that are required to meet long-term servicing needs. Depending on the project type and potential for adverse effects, some projects may be pre-approved under the Municipal Class EA and may proceed to implementation (design and construction) without further studies. Other projects, such as those classified as Schedule B or Schedule C, will require additional study before moving forward with design and construction.

As per the Class EA, consultation is required and is based on the approach taken by the proponent. The Master Plan studies will engage the broader public online, letters (email), and opportunity for 1:1 meetings with key interested parties and Indigenous Communities. At any point during the Master Plan studies, a member of the public can request to be added to a mailing list for updates.

During Phase 2 of the Class EA Process one (1) Public Information Centre (PIC) will be held for each community. The PIC will introduce the public to the Study Area and Class EA process, the community’s existing infrastructure and problem and opportunity statement, the evaluation criteria, the alternative solutions explored and the preliminary preferred solution for both water and wastewater services.

Members of the Project Team will be available at the PICs to discuss the studies, collect feedback, and answer questions. Following the PICs, a digital copy of the display materials will also be posted to the project website.