On this page:
1. Project Updates
2. Outfall Installation Details
3. Lora Bay Park Site Map
4. Staff Reports & Council Decisions
5. Public Consultation
6. Frequently Asked Questions
The Town is upgrading the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Pipe to allow the plant to meet its full capacity. This outfall will be installed off the north end of the Grey Street road allowance, and run 1.5 km into Georgian Bay. The pipes will be assembled in 200m lengths on the shore, and then floated until final assembly can be completed.
In 2024, Town Staff, along with the Town’s Consultant, Arcadis, did a wide-ranging search of potential staging sites for the outfall pipe. The sites were evaluated based on accessibility, space for storage, assembling and construction equipment/facilities, water depth, protected waters and site security. Through the evaluation process, Lora Bay Park was deemed the only suitable site. Although the public use of the park would be interrupted for the summer, using Town lands to construct the offshore pipe would eliminate the costs associated with a lease agreement of a private landowner, therefore reducing the overall cost of construction.
The shoreline of Georgian Bay has a restricted activity window for the protection of spawning fish that extends between September and July. This window provides approximately 2.5 months to conduct any work in Georgian Bay. Pre-construction preparation will be conducted before the window opens to ensure that work on the shoreline can be completed on time. Public access to Lora Bay Park will be prohibited during the pre-construction and construction window.
Why Now?
The Town needs to upgrade the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Pipe to allow the plant to meet its full capacity.
Earlier today, the Town's contractor was alerted of excess turbidity in the water in the area around the dredging site. They inspected the turbidity curtains and identified a minor failure which was immediately secured. The turbidity curtain installation includes a monitoring system which will continue to alert staff of any future issues.
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A new outfall is to be constructed to accommodate the approved increased capacity to the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant. The new outfall alignment extends from the Treatment Plant to the shoreline of Georgian Bay, following within the existing Grey Street road allowance. The outfall alignment includes the crossings of King Street East (MTO Highway 26 at Grey Street) and at Bay Street.
The outfall extends 1500 m to the north from the shoreline into Georgian Bay. Approximately the first 450 m of the outfall pipe from the shoreline will be dredged, and the remaining segment will lay on the lakebed in the deeper water. Due to fisheries windows, the marine portion of the outfall will need to begin no earlier than July 1, and be completed no later than September 30.
Turbidity curtains have been instilled to minimize the spread of suspended sediment. Due to the nature of the lakebed (hard clay) and the fact that the curtain does allow for some water movement, discolouration of the water on the outside of the curtain cannot be avoided. The contractor has real-time turbidity monitoring buoys set up on the east and west side of the dredging site. As the dredging progresses offshore into the sand and gravel lakebed, turbidity is expected to be reduced.
Consistent with Council direction, a Staff Report is expected to be brought forward later this year to consider an approach to park revitalization. This could lead to an opportunity to make improvements as restoration works occur, or folding engagement and visioning through the development of the Parks, Open Spaces and Trails Master Plan that will be commencing this year. To be notified of any future public consultation opportunities regarding the project, please subscribe to the project email list.