A University of Guelph Professor is encouraging Saugeen Shores to develop a sustainability plan for the town.
Wayne Caldwell of the Department of Rural Planning and Development says municipalities need to consider factors like the possibility oil supplies could peak, and the local effects of environmental strain and global conflict.
He says a sustainability plan is more all-encompassing than an official plan that just looks after land use issues.
Professor Caldwell has helped Huron County develop its own sustainability plan.
He says developing the plan allows a municipality to engage the public in the process.
Caldwell says the word sustainability is often only associated with the environment, but to him it’s more.
He says sustainability is about making sure future generations have what we have today, and that includes a good environment and strong community.
Councillor Luke Charbonneau isn’t against the idea of a sustainability plan, but he wants to be sure it wouldn’t end up contradicting various efforts the town is engaged in.
For example, he says if you want to protect the environment, a lower population is good, but at the same time, a population increase is needed to help keep the community sustainable.