“The grassed surface, regardless of the operations or activities carried out on it, is in a state of agriculture in the strict sense of the term. The measured topography is flat. Finally, the vegetation growing there is composed largely of Kentucky bluegrass, a grass often found in meadow mixes,” Christine Ouellet, the agronomist mandated on the file, wrote in a report obtained by TVA Nouvelles through an access-to-information request. New drone images show that the owners of the property where an illegal golf course was built in Austin, on the shore of Lake Memphrémagog, appear to have partially complied with the order issued by Quebec’s Commission de protection du territoire agricole (CPTAQ), though many questions remain unanswered, TVA Nouvelles reported.
Most of the course removed; grass surfaces allowed to stay
The images show that only a small portion of the original golf course remains. The agronomist had asked for the removal of the sand bunkers and stone walls, but authorized owners Glenn Chamandy and Amel Murad to keep the grassed surfaces, according to the documents TVA Nouvelles obtained from the CPTAQ.
Despite that authorization, the vast majority of the grassed surfaces in the agricultural zone have been removed, TVA Nouvelles observed on site. The remaining sand bunkers were removed, filled with soil and seeded with grass, the outlet reported. One stone wall is still visible in the forest, however.
Asked whether the offenders had once again placed themselves in violation by removing the grass, the CPTAQ was unable to provide an answer on Friday, TVA Nouvelles reported.
Reforestation falls far short of the 1,000-maple requirement
Another report obtained through the same access-to-information request, prepared by a forestry engineer, recommends planting 1,000 maple trees to restore the stand that was illegally cut down. The area targeted by the engineer does appear to have been reforested, but TVA Nouvelles could count no more than 60 or 70 new maples on the drone images. The CPTAQ had given the offenders until October to comply with this measure.
New building and new golf holes built nearby
The new drone images also show that the owners recently had a new building constructed on their property. Right next to it, a new golf hole has been built and at least one more appears to be under construction. Unlike the previous golf course, these new installations do not appear to be located in an agricultural zone according to various maps, TVA Nouvelles reported.
Neither the municipality nor the mayor of Austin responded to TVA Nouvelles’ requests for comment despite multiple attempts, so it is impossible at this stage to know whether the owners had requested a permit for this work or, if so, the nature of it. Glenn Chamandy, co-owner of the land, did not respond to the outlet’s request for a reaction.
Austin property already fined $152,000
The case has already produced significant penalties. Quebec’s agricultural land protection commission issued 152,000 Canadian dollars in fines and 24 infraction notices over the illegal course, and the province ordered Chamandy to restore the domain to its original state, according to earlier TVA Nouvelles reporting.
The CPTAQ did not respond to questions about whether the new construction and the removal of the grassed surfaces constitute new violations, and the owners did not respond to requests for comment.
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