The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) is raising its fees for seasonal camping, winter storage, and extra rental halls at the C.M. Wilson Learning Centre.
Seasonal camping rates will increase by $200 to the new fee of $2,200 starting next year. Seasonal camping is when campers reserve one site for the entire season.
In 2024, winter storage fees will also go from $200 to $250, non-refundable deposits will increase from $100 to $250, and security damage deposits will jump from $150 to $500.
Hall rentals at C.M. Wilson Learning Centre will cost $500, educational classroom rentals and boardroom rentals will cost $250 each, and the full facility will set you back $1,000 beginning in 2024.
Wedding packages at C.M. Wilson Learning Centre will start costing $2,000.
At their Board of Directors meeting on Thursday afternoon, Manager of Conservation Lands and Services Genevieve Champagne said the fee hike is to recover the increases in hydro and land taxes.
Board member Sandi Hipple, who is a councillor in the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, said a lot of the increases were needed.
"Honestly, one of my most favourite ones was the non-refundable deposit. One-hundred dollars is not even a sneeze, right?" said Hipple.
The new LTVCA fees start next year.
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority's (SCRCA) also raised its rates by seven per cent in 2024 and 10 per cent in both 2025 and 2026. The combined 27 per cent increase will bring the cost to $3,388, up from the $2,625 charged in 2023.
