Muskoka Lakes Golf and Country Club is spearheading the road’s realignment in order to remove those parts of the road that bisect the golf course. The club hopes to reroute the interfering portions to a corridor located to the immediate south of the golf course property. The new road would go through the Mattamy Homes subdivision, before crossing a portion of Crown land. It would then traverse several private properties before arriving at the golf club. The main access to Ferndale Road, off Muskoka Road 118, would remain the same.

The club is picking up the project’s estimated $2 million tab, said club general manager Trevor Noonan.

The proposal, however, has raised concerns by some who note that the route would go through two wetlands. Muskoka Lakes council told club representatives last month that it wanted to hear from the MNR before lending its support to the proposal.

During a council meeting last week, Trevor Griffin, area supervisor for the MNR’s Bracebridge office, said the ministry has serious concerns about the project.

“Our primary concern is the social and ecological impact,” Griffin told council. If permitted, the realignment would traverse the last parcel of Crown land in Port Carling, he noted. Further, Griffin said species at risk, including the eastern hognose snake, have been identified in the vicinity of the existing road. Putting in a new road could result in both habitat and landscape fragmentation, he said.

“At the end of the day the question is to allow a road or not,” said Griffin. “We haven’t said no, (but) we have some serious reservations about whether or not it should be done.”

Griffin indicated the club could minimize environmental risks by pushing the road to the north, around the wetland areas.

This option, however, is more costly, and may require more infilling of natural areas, council heard.

Gord Nielsen, of environmental planning group Michalski Nielsen Asso­ciates, which is working on the project, said the golf club is continuing to work with the MNR. Nielsen noted the club’s preferred option for the new road does include a 30-metre buffer from the wetlands. Nevertheless, it will continue to look at ways to mitigate all environmental impacts, including narrowing the road, constraining blasting and controlling sediment, he said.

Regardless of the route, area residents Ted Daglish and Dave Merchant said council should think carefully about supporting the proposal.

In addition to species at risk, both Daglish and Merchant noted that deer and wolves are often spotted in that area.

Councillor Stewart Martin said he was concerned the project’s environmental assessment did not look at the lands in the wintertime, when deer may be around. He said he would oppose a motion to support the realignment.

While the golf club does not require council approval for the project, as Ferndale Road is managed by the District of Muskoka, it is seeking the municipality’s support since the existing road may be transferred to the township when the new road is put into use.

Whether the township wants to assume the road, however, is still up for debate. During last Tuesday’s meeting, several councillors said they believe the district should continue to manage the road after its reconstruction.

Township CAO Walt Schmid said the municipality would discuss the suggestion with district staff.

Given the number of concerns about the project, councillors suggested deferring to both the distrct and the MNR. A motion was passed stating council has no objection to the relocation of part of Ferndale Road, provided both the ministry and the district also have no objection. The district’s engineering and public works committee will consider the project in the coming weeks.