It was a controversial idea.
The District of Lake Country was planning on selling a 210 metre stretch of Gable Beach in the Carr’s Landing area but due to public pressure, council decided Tuesday evening not to proceed with the plan.
“That didn’t go well with the people that live in the neighborhood,” Lake Country mayor James Baker said.
The plan, which was voted down 5-1, involved selling the land to three property owners for $1.35 million.
The District intended to use the money to expand nearby Coral beach but many argued it wasn’t a fair trade off.
“They wanted to expand it by 28 metres and build a parking lot,” Carr’s Landing resident Cara Reed said. “And it was done without any community engagement and there was no clear plan as to what the benefit would be.”
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Reed, the spokesperson for the group ‘Friends of Gable Beach’, said efforts to fight the proposal included a 1,500-plus signature petition and more than 1,000 hours of community meetings and door-knocking to inform area residents of the potential sale.
“We’re delighted, we couldn’t have asked for a better outcome,” Reed said.
Doug Worbets, who’s with the Carr’s Landing Community and Recreation Centre, also opposed the sale. He told Global News the long and hard-fought battle was worth it.
“It says if we speak up, if we get together we can actually do something and make good things happen.”