This message was copied from the OF4WD forum. It was written by Peter Wood, current president of the OF4WD in regards to a master use plan that is being prepared for Greens Mountian. Please follow the link and register as a stakeholder to show that we were interested in continued access and use of the Greens Mountian trails.

Quick update - Highlands East have engaged services of a consultant to prepare a Recreational Master Plan for the area known as Greens Mountain. I do have a seat on the Highlands East Trails Committee and I am representing the interest of 4x4 enthusiasts to Highlands East. However, the Trails Committee are not being allowed to engage to the extent I would have expected in the process. As such I encourage you to make your presence felt by registering your interest as a Stakeholder (deadline: 5pm Friday March 14, 2014). Any problems using the links below email me please peter.wood@OF....com

Register via this link: (http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com ... ae52a4597c) below:

"Greens Mountain is a historical Crown Land site located to the south of the Hamlet of Gooderham, Ontario. It has become a popular area for Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts which has created increased pressure on the landscape and natural resources. The existing trails are not sustainable or suitable for tourism due to a high degree of difficulty.

David A Clark Consulting Inc. is preparing a Recreational Master Plan (RMP) for the area of Crown Land known as Greens Mountain, for the Municipality of Highlands East.

The focus of this planning process is to:
1) protect and preserve the natural resources through managed recreation best practices
2) attract more tourists to the area for economic impact and job creation
3) create and manage the desired recreation experiences of the visitors.

The RMP will be a guiding document for the Municipality in the development of land use agreements with the Ministry of Natural Resources and stakeholder groups for sustainable trails & recreation facilities as well as the management and maintenance of the area over a five to ten year planning horizon.

The RMP will review existing recreational uses and facilities in the area; outline relevant emergent trends in recreational usages of comparable sites; identify optimal uses and locations within the target area for those uses; identify ecological constraints; identify social constraints; and set out a development and governance model which will allow the Municipality to implement the development of those uses on the site.

Stakeholder Consultations and public meetings will take place during March and April 2014.
Please notify us by 5pm Friday March 14, 2014

The first stakeholder consultation will involve understanding the needs and desires of recreation users and discussions as to the potential of the area for tourism recreation. The next consultation will involve local residents and business and a third consultation will be held for those opposed to better understand their concerns.

There will be public consultations to review the proposed Recreational Master Plan sometime in May. "


Regards