The Rural Voice, 1990-04, Page 37THE LAND AND ITS FUTURE
Grey County
THE LAND AND ITS FUTURE
THE GOLDEN RULE OF LAND USE
An Interview with George McLean, Wildlife Artist
GEORGE McLEAN IS A
wildlife artist of international stature,
though he'll tell you he's surprised at
his success, and that before 1974 he
never earned more than $6,000 a year.
He's lived in Grey County for 21
years, and his family history stretches
back with the history of the county
itself — his great -great-grandmother
was buried in Owen Sound.
issues, until these issues start affecting
the environment and, as a result, me.
I never got involved with the Grey
Association for Better Planning group
until after it was formed. But I sure
agree with what they're saying."
The group to which McLean refers
was formed in the fall of 1989 in pro-
test against the high number of sever-
ances being granted in Grey County.
"I will spend another $10,000,
minimum, if this goes before the OMB
(Ontario Municipal Board). And what
I have spent this money on is some-
body else's kids, because I don't have
any."
McLean notes that he didn't get
involved in the development issue
until the sign went up on the property
for the subdivision. "I'm a lone wolf,"
he says. "I was a spokesman for
the environment before GABP
started. Bill Murdoch was the
catalyst that got me going on the
Sydenham Mills issue."
The 65 -acre site in question,
McLean says, was purchased for
$160,000. "Initially, four lots
were severed and sold for
$30,000 each," he says. "There
was no improvement made to the
land. Four houses were built on
the lots. There was no protest
from me when the first four
houses were built. Now they
want to make an entire subdiv-
ision out of this wildlife habitat."
"We can't destroy any wild-
life habitat without destroying
our own habitat," McLean adds.
"We must not eliminate species
of plant and animal life. We
must treat this planet as if we
intend to stay here."
"Sydenham Mills is in my
community, in my township.
My reeve is on the two main com-
mittees of the county planning depart-
ment, the subdivision committee and
the land approval committee. There
are eight guys who are all on the same
committees — roads, the Grey -Bruce
Tourist Association, the Conservation
authority, etcetera."
"As I see it, Bill Murdoch is in
conflict with Sydenham Mills and
being on these committees. It's like a
referee who is playing in the hockey
His property in Sydenham
Township is probably worth a tidy
sum — "Nobody knows what their
land's worth anymore here" — but
he'll keep the farm intact, complete
with the 150,000 or more trees planted
by himself and his wife and the work-
able land that is used by a neighbour-
ing farmer at no charge.
"Money," he says, "is not where
happiness is."
"I stick to painting, and I couldn't
care less about the political side of
The specific area of the environ-
ment to which McLean refers is the
property that could become the •
Sydenham Mills subdivision near
Rockford, on County Road 18.
And McLean has spent a large sum
to hire a lawyer and a professional
planner to help fight the development.
"It has cost me, to date, $10,000, to
say one thing: We have regulations
that we must all adhere to, whether
you're a politician, an artist, or a
farmer."
APRIL 1990 33