By Jenn Watt

On Saturday June 8 the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners’ Associations honoured the years of support Murray Fearrey gave to the organization when he was mayor of Dysart et al.

“He has been a steadfast supporter of shoreline protection septic re-inspection and he’s been always there for advice for me” said Paul MacInnes chair of CHA during a special presentation at the association’s annual general meeting.

CHA protected an acre of land in the Dahl Forest in perpetuity in his name.

Fearrey said that the municipality had tackled several environmental issues over the years that have kept lakes clean including passing bylaws prohibiting boathouses and creating building setbacks on lakefront properties.

He said he saw proliferation of Canada geese and seagulls as an issue that needed immediate attention from local councils.

“We have to be tougher on people with grass right to the lake” Fearrey said since this practice encourages geese.

The landfills are contributing to concentrated seagull populations he said. “They feed at the landfill site and then by the hundreds now they go to Drag Lake and Kashag and I’m sure some of the other lakes.”