Goals	Strategies
EN1:  Protect,  restore  and  enhance  natural  heritage	Protect,  restore  and  enhance  open  spaces,  forested  areas,  and  natural  corridors.   Preserve,  protect,  and  restore  wetlands,  and  shoreline  habitats.   Identify,  protect  and  enhance  special  natural  heritage  features  and  functions.   Reduce  the  number  of  contaminated  sites  in  the  watershed.
EN2:  Protect  and  enhance  biodiversity	Protect  native  species  and  habitat  from  invasive  plants,  animals  and  pests.   Protect  rare  (threatened)  and  endangered  terrestrial  and  aquatic  plant  and  animal  species  from  development.
EN3:  Reduce  consumption  of  natural  resources	Solid  and  Hazardous  Waste   Eliminate  household  hazardous  and  special  wastes  from  landfill.   Decrease  the  total  annual  tonnage  of  solid  waste  disposed  in  landfill  over  the  2006  baseline.   Limit  the  disposal  of  food  and  garden  waste  in  landfills.   Support  extended  producer  responsibility  for  waste  generation.   Support  the  goal  of  a  zero  waste  society.   Pursue  additional  alternatives  to  minimizing  the  volume  of  waste  disposed.   Energy  Consumption   Develop  alternative  energy  plans  that  consider  using  solar,  wind,  and  geothermal  sources.   Implement  conservation  initiatives.   Inventory  data  on  energy  consumption  and  monitor  progress  towards  goals.   Water  Quality   Protect  surface  and  ground  water  from  contaminants  through  the  watershed’s  Source  Water  Protection  Plan.   Minimize  contaminants  to  surface  and  ground  water  from  storm  water  collection  and  discharge  systems.   Ensure  sufficient  sustainable  sewage  treatment  plant  capacity  and  treatment  to  accommodate  the  growing  population.   Air  Quality  and  Climate  Change   Develop  a  coordinated  plan  to  reduce  our  impact  on  climate  change  and  develop  adaptation  strategies.   Improve  air  quality  within  the  watershed  to  ensure  compliance  with  provincial  air  quality  standards.
EN4:  Design  efficient  public  facilities  in  harmony  with  natural  systems	Transportation  Facilities   Reduce  the  impact  that  transportation  has  on  the  watershed’s  contribution  to  greenhouse  gas  emissions  (GHGs).   Implement  the  Simcoe  County  Transportation  Master  Plan.   Develop  municipal  plans  that  focus  on  mass  transit,  including  car  pooling,  implementing  connecting  trails,  and  encourage  micro-private  sector  initiatives  such  as  community  buses.   Water  Quantity  and  Supply   Ensure  a  reliable  potable  water  supply  for  all  residents  and  visitors.   Reduce  water  consumption  through  water  conservation  measures.   Develop  a  water  and  wastewater  plan  based  on  growth  targets.   Urban  and  Rural  Development   Decrease  urban  sprawl  and  encourage  more  compact  development  patterns.   Continue  to  protect  natural  areas,  parkland,  agricultural  lands  and  woodlands  (both  urban  and  rural)  from  encroaching  development.   Promote  and  encourage  "green  building"  design,  development  and  construction  through  the  achievement  of  Leadership  in  Energy  and  Environmental  Design  (LEED)  standards  set  by  the  Canada  Green  Building  Council  or  equivalent  programs.

EN5:  Promote  environmental  education  programs  to  encourage  respect  for  natural  areas  and  habitats

Promote  the  establishment  of  school  programs  that  create  awareness  of  local  natural  and  cultural  environments  and  sustainable  living.   Increase  cooperation  among  schools  and  environmental/socio‐cultural  groups  for  public  education  programs  about  environmental  stewardship.   Support  local  non‐government  organizations  to  provide  environmental  education  opportunities.

Community  Well-being  

 

Goals

Strategies

C1:  Promote  wellness  of  mind,  body  and  soul

Safety   Reduce  motorized  vehicle  collisions/crashes  and  fatalities.   Improve  the  safety  of  alternative  transportation  modes,  particularly  cycling.   Decrease  crime  within  watershed  communities.   Promote  safe  hunting.   Health  &  Health  Services   Improve  overall  health  of  residents.   Promote  safe  and  healthy  work  environments.   Continue  preparedness  for  Pandemic  and  Emergency  Planning.   Recreation  Services   Provide  a  variety  of  structured  and  unstructured  recreational  services  and  facilities  that  are  physically  and  financially  accessible  for  all  ages  and  abilities.   Healthy  Community  Design   Develop  policies  to  promote  the  design  of  communities  that  are  livable,  attractive  and  healthy.   Develop  a  community  whose  citizenry  has  a  strong  sense  of  personal  and  spiritual  well‐being.

C2:  Provide  safe,  healthy,  diverse  and  affordable  housing	Provide  alternative  housing  types  and  sizes  to  meet  the  needs  of  all  demographics,  all  income  levels  at  all  stages  of  life.   Reduce  homelessness  within  watershed  communities.
C3:  Protect  and  enhance  a  network  of  active  living  activities  for  all  ages  and  abilities	Create  a  network  of  interconnected  trails  and  walkways  throughout  the  watershed.   Increase  awareness  of  wilderness  opportunities  in  the  watershed.   Increase  collaboration  between  municipal  governments  and  other  organizations  to  provide  active  living,  leisure  and  educational  services.
C4:  Recognize  and  protect  cultural  identity  and  local  arts  and  heritage	Promote  art,  culture  and  heritage  in  the  Watershed.   Conserve  natural  and  built  heritage  facilities  and  landscapes.   Implement  heritage  conservation  guidelines.
C5:  Retain  and  build  diverse  social  networks	Continue  to  recognize  and  promote  volunteerism  within  the  community.   Continue  to  support  volunteer  initiatives,  including  monitoring,  that  are  aligned  with  this  Sustainability  Plan.   Promote  and  enhance  awareness  and  usage  of  community  networking  services  and  similar  initiatives.

 

Goals	Strategies
E1:  Create  a  sustainable,  diverse  and  balanced  economic   base  that  provides  quality  employment  and  sustainable  wages  for  residents	Economy   Develop  strategies  or  enhance  support  for  business  retention  and  expansions.  Investigate  opportunities  for  the  Watershed  to  implement  a  Clean  Technology  plan  and  strategy.   Provide  support,  tools  and  incentives  for  existing  business  to  become  "greener"  through  energy,  resource  and  process  efficiencies.   Promote  ecologically  appropriate  entrepreneurship  within  watershed  communities.   Develop  a  formal  business  attraction  policy  for  the  area.   Ensure  adequate  supply  of  serviced  land  available  to  meet  our  needs.   Employment   Improve/increase  availability  and  awareness  of  employment  opportunities.   Improve  wages/affordability  of  living  to  keep  people  in  the  community.   Improve  the  number  of  opportunities  for  green  businesses.   Improve  educational  apprenticeship  programs  in  the  watershed.
E2:  Improve  the  watershed’s  communications  and  infrastructure	Access  funds  to  increase  availability  of  high  speed/wireless  Internet.   Promote  awareness  of  Internet  capacity  to  support  business  development  and  expansion.

E3:  Strengthen  tourism  and  recreation  development  in  a  low-impact  manner	Expand,  enhance  and  promote  eco-tourism.   Expand,  enhance  and  promote  cultural  tourism.    Expand,  enhance  and  promote  culinary  tourism.    Work  with  industry  professionals  to  re-evaluate  the  direction  of  tourism  given  the  stressors  indicated.   Work  with  tourism  operators  to  identify  opportunities  to  improve  operational  efficiency  while  minimizing  environmental  impact.
E4:  Revitalize  downtowns  and  main  streets  for  residents  and  visitors	Maintain  vibrant  downtowns  as  the  commercial,  cultural  and  social  focal  points  of  the  communities  in  the  watershed.   Support  retention  and  development  of  local  farmers’  markets  (Orillia).   Promote  initiatives  that  support  local  purchasing.   Support  beautification  efforts.   Promote  pedestrian  space  and  friendliness.   Promote  downtown  festivals  and  activities.
E5:  Enhance  the  economic  viability  of  sustainable  agriculture	Develop  and  implement  an  action  plan  to  improve  the  economic  viability  of  agriculture  in  the  region.   Strengthen  local  connections  between  the  production  and  consumption  of  goods  and  services.   Develop  a  farm  land  trust  to  purchase  land  from  retiring  farmers  at  market  prices.   Support  the  development  of  educational  programs  for  sustainable  agriculture.   Create  financing  strategies  and  programs  to  support  transition  to  sustainable  agricultural  practices  like  organic  certification   Promote  purchasing  of  local  foods  by  all  municipal  governments,  hospitals,  educational  institutions,  grocery  outlets,  restaurants  and  residents.