The municipality, in conjunction with the province and other stakeholders, is working towards the establishment of the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Regional Park. A map showing conceptual boundaries for the park is contained in the municipality’s 2014 Regional Plan. The actual boundaries for the park, when established, will depend upon the municipality’s ability to acquire lands within those conceptual boundaries.
MAP 11 OF THE REGIONAL MUNICIPAL PLANNING STRATEGY
The park has been a longstanding desire that pre-dates the municipality’s original Regional Plan in 2006. While there are various maps to represent the potential park, Map 11 of the Regional Plan is the municipality’s official version. Map 11 shows both the conceptual boundary of the proposed park as well as the broader wilderness area.
Since 2017, the municipality has obtained several private properties in support of the proposed park. In 2020, the municipality also approved funding to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust for its acquisition of private lands linking the broader provincial wilderness areas.
MAP OF LANDS ACQUIRED BY THE MUNICIPALITY AND IDENTIFICATION OF NSNT LANDS
Access Planning
The municipality is securing new accesses as part of subdivision developments in West Bedford and a new section of Bayers Lake Business Park. Additional information will be provided as these plans progress.
MAP TO IDENTIFY GENERAL LOCATION OF ACCESS POINTS
Current Directions from Regional Council
Regional Council recently provided directions on a variety of Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Regional Park topics, including a larger conceptual park boundary, through the following motions:
June 9, 2020 Regional Council Motion:
MOVED by Councillor Zurawski, seconded by Councillor Adams
THAT Halifax Regional Council request a staff report for a plan for the creation of a park at the Blue Mountain Birch Cove wilderness reserve. I request that this report include considerations for, projected land acquisition needs for the creation of the park, expected costs associated with land acquisition, projected costs of maintenance of the park before, during and after the acquisition of the necessary lands, staff requirements to maintain the park, boundaries of the park, timeline for the creation of the park, potential sources of funding for the creation and maintenance of the park, and mitigation of threats to park at this juncture. The staff report is required because of the changing nature our municipal budgets, and because of threats to the existing forests from fire, pests, and overuse.
MOTION PUT AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
August 18, 2020 Regional Council Motion:
MOVED by Councillor Zurawski, seconded by Councillor Austin
THAT Halifax Regional Council:
- Request a staff report directing that the Parks Planning process for Blue Mountain Birch Cove include the entire backcountry in addition to the core parklands identified in Map 11.
- That the Regional Plan review include considering revising Map 11 for Blue Mountain Birch Cove Park.
- Direct that HRM provide a more fulsome history and timeline of the Blue Mountain Birch Cove Park, including conceptual park maps, on the municipal website.
MOTION PUT AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
September 1, 2020 Regional Council Motion:
MOVED by Councillor Zurawski, seconded by Deputy Mayor Blackburn
THAT Halifax Regional Council request a staff report considering that a senior level coordinating committee, led by HRM staff, be established for the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Regional Wilderness Park. The purpose of this HRM, staff-led senior level coordinating committee, will be created to ensure
- That land use, development decisions, and approvals involving adjacent and surrounding lands of the core wilderness area are compatible with the ecological mandates of the park, as outlined by the best ecological research, and do not adversely affect the viability and integrity of the future park.
- The coordinating committee will be HRM staff led and comprised of advisors from the public, and NGOs such as, but not limited to the Ecology Action Centre (EAC) and Friends of BMBC Lakes.
- Provide progress reports to HRM Regional Council once every twelve months, which will be made available to the public
- Provide a monitoring plan, whose purpose is to protect the ecological integrity of the proposed park with an emphasis on ensuring public use compatible with the purposes of the future park.
MOTION PUT AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Additional information will be provided as these reports are considered by Regional Council.
Staff Contacts
For additional information on the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Regional Park project, please contact:
Richard Harvey
Manager of Policy and Planning
Park and Recreation
902.476.5822
harveyri@halifax.ca