Bracebridge to enter Licence of Occupation with District of Muskoka

The District is building a new waste depot site in Bracebridge

Bracebridge General Committee agreed to enter a Licence of Occupation with District of Muskoka for new waste depot site, in the December 3, 2025, meeting.

According to the staff report, the Licence is for the Town to authorize the District “exclusive use of a portion of Town lands abutting 1770 Beaumont Drive,” Bracebridge, formerly the Township of Muskoka.

It adds, “The District Municipality of Muskoka complete all due diligence, including environmental and other requirements for the subject property to be used for the new waste depot site; construct perimeter security fencing for the proposed new waste depot site; and fully manage the site for compliance, insurance, safety and maintenance.”

The District has been providing waste collection at the wharf portion of Beaumont Drive during recent years, collecting island and seasonal residential waste on Sundays. “The next integration of this program led district EPW [Engineering and Public Works] to seek property near this area for a permanent waste depot site location,” report staff.

District staff have initiated studies prior to the land transfer “for Species at Risk” and reported “no species at risk in the proposed footprint.”

Staff also reported that there is no need for tree removals because none exist in the “footprint.”

The licence has been approved for a 5-year term. After this term the Town and District will review any concerns raised. However, if it’s successful the District will request a continued process involving purchasing the land.

The final content agreement will be set out to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works and Director of Corporate Services/Clerk.

Councillor, Brenda Rhodes, praised the program. She said, “Not all locations get a depot site. So, we’re actually quite lucky that this is a possibility for us.”

She also praised staff for items in place to ensure “it’s fully covered by the District.”

She explained that although the hours of operation are still being considered, it will likely be something along the lines of being open Monday, Saturday and Sunday and possibly a couple of weekdays, from 12:00pm until 4pm, or open at 8am… “More available than just having a truck there 1 or 2 days a week and it would be maintained.”