Business is booming in Wasaga Beach.

That was the message that Wasaga Beach Mayor Cal Patterson brought to about 50 people at the Collingwood Chamber of Commerce power lunch at the Leisure Time Club on Wednesday.

Patterson spoke for about 30 minutes, with the majority of speech centred around the amount of new development in the municipality. Patterson showed off a map with 81 potential developments and thousands of homes.

He said while he wasn't "unhappy," with the recently released provincial growth plan as "bigger isn't always better," he said the town is growing.

"We have sewer and water capacity for 38,000," he said. "The direction the county is going, we are all going to be paying for the growth of other communities. We're still focusing on major growth in our community."

Patterson said a development along Sunnidale is poised to have more than 2,000 people. He said if all 81 developments are built, the town's population will double.

"If they are all built out, we need 35,000 people," he said.

Patterson said with the Hwy. 26 bypass set to be constructed there is more than 190 acres of land that is slated for commercial development. He said 100 acres at Hwy. 26 and Wilson's Corners has been ready to go for five years.

"It's going to create a lot of jobs," he said.

He spoke about the changes happening in Wasaga Beach. He said while the some people don't like tourists, they are still vital to the economy.

"I consider us a being a thriving community with tourism as our biggest industry," he said.

Patterson said there have been discussions with a developer for a hotel complex at Beach Area 2 with an indoor water park. He said there are four sites in the community for hotels, which he feels would turn Wasaga into a four-season destination.

"That's huge for our community," he said. "We've spoken with Marriott Hotels."

Patterson also spoke about the need for a high school in Wasaga Beach. He said they currently bus 700 students to Collingwood or Stayner. He said the town has committed $3 million for the high school, which would then be used as a community centre during the evenings.

"Wasaga Beach wants a high school," he said.

Patterson said he wasn't in favour of closing Stayner Collegiate and doesn't see why a smaller high school in Wasaga Beach wouldn't work.