Maple, Beech and Cameron Lakes Area Property Owners' Association

Today we hope to detail our major concerns re the proposed addition of a crosswind runway to the Stanhope Airport. A team of 4 people whose résumés are attached have spent hundreds of hours researching these issues. For each concern we have listed with it the 3rd party verification. We want to make it clear that we are not recommending the closing of the existing airport. Our concern is with the viability of the proposed addition of a crosswind runway. The support materials are all available on an as requested basis. The MBCLAPOA would also be willing to schedule follow up meetings to provide further detail and insight into the findings.

Given the large upfront costs and potentially enormous impact on local taxpayers we feel strongly that this proposal should be researched and debated thoroughly by all interested parties...

Download the entire presentation (PDF)...

Airport Fact Sheet
August, 2007
As the Township Council of Algonquin Highlands forges ahead with plans and actions for the expansion of the Haliburton / Stanhope Municipal Airport, concerned landowners and ratepayers who have been or will be directly affected by the "project" join the council in encouraging more informed involvement by the people of Algonquin Highlands. Please contact the sites, people and resources recommended by Council in the fact sheet you received with your latest tax notice. Please also consider becoming a member of the Maple, Beech and Cameron Lakes Area Property Owners Association - this organization is NOT just for "cottagers" but for all people concerned with how the area can and should be developed.

Get the fact sheet (PDF)...

Airport Map
August, 2007
Click here for the map of the proposed airport expansion.

Airport Justification
August, 2007
Justifications for airport expansion: more reasons to question the proposal.

AIRPORT TO BECOME JETPORT, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND DISPOSITORY FOR YOUR TAX DOLLARS
July, 2007
Unless we act now!

YOUR council with YOUR tax dollars continues to push forward with its $5.8 MILLION, 20 year airport expansion using "principally its (TWP of Algonquin Highland's) resources". Do the math - $3.8 MILLION (just the 2006-8 portion) in borrowing by the TWP funded over 10 years will lead to about $500,000 in new spending or an increase on your taxes of approximately 8%!!!! So if your taxes are $5000 now, YOU can look forward to investing about $400 ANNUALLY for what exactly?
Well included in the project is a new 4000 foot 'cross wind' runway from the shores of Cameron Lake to the Gull River, new commercial hangers, a housing development, apron expansion, global positioning system.all for the seemingly 30 'regular users' and some transient traffic.
We think this is a BAD DEAL FOR TAXPAYERS AND THE AREA.
Perhaps if it had community value.but looking into each and every reason for the expansion reveals absolutely NO substance. I challenge you to look deeper - this expansion will NOT improve medical services, fire protection or safety. Jobs - well sure it will create jobs with the $5.8 MILLION invested.but so would drilling for oil with about as much economic success.
So why then? Blind faith? Vanity? Bit of both perhaps.
It should be noted that the TWP expects to pay for it all by developing the land with $250,000 housing lots around the fringe of the airport and by bringing in big business. Of course, no consideration is paid to the fact that we are in Haliburton, that business has far more practical and efficient locations nearer markets and resources and that Collingwood, Orillia and Parry Sound have all executed similar plans WITHOUT Success.
So a $5.8 MILLION commitment - an experiment with YOUR tax dollars - forever? Should you invest?

So what is your association doing?
. We are running a summer long campaign in the local papers called "Let's clear the air" to bring awareness and garner support for what appears to be an inevitable legal battle
. We are encouraging people to look deeper into the merits (or lack thereof) and understand that this is a HUGE project for a TWP with $2.5 MILLION in annual spending.
. We are creating awareness that this project WILL have an enormous impact on YOUR taxes, not to mention your lifestyle if you are anywhere within 5 kilometers of the airport.
IS this the type of Haliburton you see in your future? Does this help Haliburton promote its natural amenities or simply transform it into suburban morass?
So step up to the plate and get involved before it's too late. Become informed, volunteer some time and support the CLEAR THE AIR FUND financially so the TWP plans can be thoroughly and publicly reviewed.

AIRPORT CHRONOLOGY
1974 - The paving of the Stanhope airport was justified as a way to drive economic development
1998 - Eleanor Harrison stated that one of her main concerns was the environment "A stand has to be taken and something has to be done in order to preserve what we have now.we have to take a firm stand on the environment." hmmm - was that an election year?
Sept 2002 - Estimates for an additional runway $1.8-2 million according to TWP study
June 9 2003 Minden Times - "Algonquin Highlands moving forward with its plans for a $2.9 Million expansion of the Stanhope airport"
June 2006 - Middleton's receive offer on their 100 acres of land for the expansion.
August 2006 AGM (see the Times Aug 23) - Reeve Harrison states "At present we're not pursuing it (expansion) actively.the council does not hold back information on anything"
May 2007 -when meeting with executives from Maple, Beech and Cameron Area Lakes POA, Reeve Harrison scoffs at the association's estimate of $5-10 Million in spending saying the expansion will cost in the neighbourhood of $1.5 million
May 2007 A BUSINESS VISION dated May 2006 (yes 2006!) released puts the expansion at $5.8 million (Was 2006 an election year and therefore the 'vision' held back?)

Board of Directors

AIRPORT NEWS