we don’t have the flow capacity within our existing wastewater treatment facilities to be able to bring these parcels online.” To manage this, significant funding, and collaboration with provincial and neighboring municipal partners is required. “Once we do have those service needs addressed, I think we’ll be in a really good state,” she says. Transportation is another priority, and a traffic study has highlighted the need for a bypass around the community of Shelburne. “We’ve been at this in conversation for many years, but now we’ve started to do the actual studies that are going to be required in order to make that bypass a reality,” Sian underscores. The study also resulted in a collaboration with the counties of Grey and Bruce to provide a bus route linking Owen Sound to Orangeville and GO Transit connections. “We showed that we were a good partner.We showed that it was effective, and now we have a five year commitment from the provincial government to run that bus service,” says Horner. “To me, that’s a huge thing. You have to do those things in order to be successful in an infrastructure need.” MAIN STREETS AND COMMUNITY VITALITY While farms and open spaces define much of Dufferin County, its towns and villages are also vibrant hubs. The communities of Orangeville, Shelburne, and Grand Valley offer traditional main streets with shops, restaurants, and entertainment amenities. A county wide Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is underway to support rural and urban areas. Efforts will assist farmers in attracting farm gate sales and create awareness of what Dufferin County has to offer. 65 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 DUFFERIN COUNTY, ON
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