The Town of the Blue Mountains has completed phase two of its integrated community sustainability plan, which outlines its goals and priorities for sustainable development over the next 50 years.

Composed of 46 objectives spread across five categories, phase two of the sustainability plan sought to develop an overarching vision and set of priorities to guide the town’s decision-making process in the immediate and near future.

Phase two included nine weeks of public engagement between June and August, 2021, which saw 268 participants provide input through surveys and public events hosted by the town.

The top 15 priorities brought forward through the public engagement process are as follows:

1. Maintain, protect and improve the natural environment
2. Responsible development 
3. Respect land, clean water, and clean air 
4. Affordability 
5. Green energy 
6. Car alternatives 
7. Green infrastructure and buildings 
8. Diversity & inclusion 
9. Sustainability and environment leadership 
10. Tree protection and retention 
11. Balanced economy, environment, society, culture, and built environment  
12. Waste management improvement 
13. Buy local food, services, and materials 
14. Diverse economy 
15. Public art

Phase three of the sustainability plan will bring forward a set of objectives across a ten year period, as well as the steps that will be required to achieve them.

The town’s steps to meeting its ten-year objectives are anticipated to be reviewed and updated every five years.

Phase three is slated for completion by summer 2022.

Phase two of the project was presented to council Nov. 30, where council members were concerned about creating concrete, actionable steps to service the broader goals that were brought forward.

Keep reading on CollingWoodToday.ca

• 
•