Preferred beach plan

Phased plan targets flooding, drainage and access issues at Wellington beach

Wellington Rotary Beach, one of the County’s most-visited waterfronts, is a step closer to a long-term makeover after Council approved the preferred beach improvement and management plan at last week’s committee of the whole meeting.

“Wellington Rotary Beach is a big feature, especially to visitors to the County—sometimes it’s the first thing, or maybe the only thing, they see when Sandbanks is too full,” said Councillor John Hirsch.

The plan aims to tackle long-standing issues such as flooding, drainage, sedimentation, and road deterioration, while maintaining the natural character of the site. However, no construction can begin until funding is secured.

“This is a culmination of exploring management options for the beach,” said Albert Paschkowiak, the County’s supervisor of Environmental Services and Sustainability. “It consolidates all the past reports, studies, and consultations that have been done with residents.”

Paschkowiak described the strategy as a “cost-conscious, minimalist approach” to resolving key problems such as sediment build-up in the channel, poor drainage, and deteriorating infrastructure. The County plans to seek grants and complete the work in phases as funding becomes available.

Dredging remains the first priority. The County will continue to hire a contractor every three years to dredge the Wellington channel, while staff explore purchasing their own dredge to reduce long-term costs. Dredging operations, which typically cost around $220,000, are expected to resume next year.

Hirsch also introduced an amendment directing staff to include a reserve for climate adaptation and mitigation projects in the 2026 budget. The funds would help the municipality qualify for a Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) climate adaptation grant, which could cover up to 70 per cent of eligible project costs.

“FCM won’t accept an application unless we can show we have the remaining 30 per cent available,” Hirsch said. “That should enable us to do some of the major start-up items quickly—possibly as soon as next year.”

Paschkowiak noted that improvements to the road and drainage system would likely qualify as climate adaptation work. “We’re looking at proper drainage, raising the road, and incorporating a bioswale, so stormwater doesn’t sit and erode the surface,” he said. “Everything else depends on fixing that first.”

KEY ISSUES AND COSTS
The preferred beach plan addresses three main concerns: channel sedimentation, infrastructure damage, and user access. The replacement of the asphalt road, including re-grading and drainage upgrades, is estimated at about $510,000.

“These features will work in concert to improve drainage and resilience to flooding and storm surge,” Paschkowiak’s report noted.

Councillor Janice Maynard expressed concern over the cost, saying, “It’s going to be a tough sell at half a million dollars when the roads we drive on every day are in worse condition than that beach road.”

The plan also looks to long-term solutions for sedimentation. Options include extending the jetties into deeper water ($5.7 million) or purchasing dredging equipment ($1.1 million). While jetty extensions could reduce the need for future dredging, they come with a long payback period and high risk if sediment continues to accumulate.

An overland barrier—a stone wall and sand fence—can be implemented sooner under existing funds and could help reduce sand from blowing or washing into the channel.

PUBLIC ACCESS, PARKING, AND NATURALIZATION
Beyond the technical fixes, the plan aims to improve access and safety for beach users. A proposed berm would formalize parking areas and create a natural barrier against flooding and vehicles driving onto the sand. A boardwalk extension would run along the top of the berm, improving pedestrian movement.

A section of parking would be shifted to the north side of Beach Street near the former water filling station, while the old parking area would be replaced with a naturalized dune. Drainage would be handled through a bioswale leading to the nearby marsh.

Not all councillors supported the dune concept. “Part of the attraction to going there is being able to drive down and look at the water,” said Councillor Brad Nieman. “You put something there that obstructs that view—I can’t support that.”

The plan also includes a reconfigured traffic flow near the boat launch and a new kayak launch with floating dock and secure storage, though Nieman objected to the municipality storing private equipment. “I don’t believe the municipality should be in the business of renting or storing people’s property,” he said.

PROVINCIAL PARTNERSHIP
The beach operates under a management agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) that runs until 2041. While MNRF generally supports the proposed improvements, additional permits and detailed designs will be required.

However, Councillor Phil Prinzen raised the idea of handing the beach back to the province, noting it was mentioned in the staff report. “Have we threatened to give it back to them so maybe they’ll help us out?” he asked.

Paschkowiak confirmed it’s an option, but cautioned against it. “It would remove the municipality’s ability to manage the site and could result in a drop in service levels,” he said. “We can’t purport to know what the ministry would do—it’s a bit of a nebulous option.”

Hirsch agreed, warning that if the County handed it back, “it would just languish in its current state while the province did studies and planning.”

COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The beach management study, prepared by Shoreplan Engineering Inc., was based on extensive public consultation, including more than 1,000 survey responses. The Wellington waterfront task team evaluated three approaches: tweak, naturalize, or big move. Of 166 detailed responses, 73 per cent preferred moderate improvements or naturalization over a fullscale redevelopment.

“This has been a great example of public consultation,” said Wellington councillor Corey Engelsdorfer. “We hosted multiple open houses, knocked on doors and even attended a Wellington Rotary meeting. This is likely the first time I have felt confident we have reached the public in order to help us form a decision.”

The County has been reviewing beach operations since 2021, prompted by surging tourism during the pandemic. The resulting plan, Council heard, aims to balance environmental resilience with accessibility and community enjoyment.

“The beach is a centrepiece for the County,” said Hirsch. “If we want to protect it, we need to take action now.”