[All] Fw: Ira Needles Videos and photos: serious water issues

Thu Oct 8 01:18:42 EDT 2009

Received: Thursday, October 8, 2009, 1:13 AM

Dear Mayors, Council members, Ms. Bailey and Mr. Miller

I would like you to view the videos taken of the Ira Needles Glasgow "mega mall area" on October 7, 2009. 

I created a series of videos now posted on you tube showing the sediment and erosion issues, the flooding and huge volumes of water pouring off the lands. Aquifers are being breached.The sound quality in a couple of the videos is very poor due to the high winds but the visuals say quite a bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yWAjp11dnA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYk9ftf4LY8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LtknhcnkdI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pHDPWMXx0Q

 In the attachments are photographs taken on this day in the area of Ira Needles for your reference. 

This is in my view the construction activities taking place are highly unacceptable. It's the same sort of issues I'm seeing along the Greyerbiehl properties in the West Side Lands right now. Stantec is involved with both proposals as noted on the on site signage.

In my view Stantec has proven themselves incompetent in the ability to adequately assess risk as evident in the OMB PL071044 experts minutes where Stantec's own experts wrote off on the fact the surveys for groundwater, surface water flow and Clair Creek were "insufficient."

Similar issues surfaced regarding Stantec once again when Conservation Halton produced a report that shows weaknesses in the studies in regards to the Nelson Aggregate Expansion on Mount Nemo in Burlington. Conservation Halton is now recommending a decline of the approval permit for the quarry expansion. The report is currently on line and you can see  the details here at:

http://www.conservationhalton.on.ca/uploads/Board%20Meetings%20Minutes/Board/2009%2010%2001%20Nelson%20Report%20Final%20%20Version%20170909200%20FINAL.pdf

In one of the videos, I mentioned how urban design increased tornadic activity in Atlanta. Here is the info regarding this. 

According to the experts from Environment Canada, the Ohio Tornado Belt is moving north to settle here in Waterloo Region as a result of climate change. This "mega mall" proposal is being placed on the west side of Kitchener and Waterloo where the winds and rain come in strongest fed mainly by large moist farmlands over top the recharge. To introduce a large impervious dry hot surface next to farmlands mixes hot and cool rising airs together in a manner that could trigger a tornado. It poses a serious risk for areas to the east. To view an article regarding this please view this link:

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/urbanstorm/

There's money in destruction if it justifes a pipeline or creates a catastrophy requiring us to rebuild something. There are people who do not care what happens as long as they get paid. For example, I've sat in Waterloo City Council when Mr. Ed Baumann, the owner of Laurel Springs bottled water stated to Mayor Epp and council, "I don't give a damn if the wells go dry. By the time they do I'll be maggot meat."  

Today I write to you in good faith that we can prevent damages. We must prioritize our water protection and public safety above development interests if we are to seriously maintain public health and the economic security of our communities and industries and educational institutions.

The economic and liability risks for not protecting the resource are very real. I have already been approached to discuss a possible lawsuit against the region for failing to adequately protect ground water and surface water resources and I am sharing this information with you openly in the hopes that such actions will not be needed. 

The public is organizing in many communities to challenge municipalities on quarry operations, to defend parklands, to defend water resources, to fight climate change, to defend rare species and natural resources. This is a growing movement that is focused, science based and well educated. To circumvent OMB processes it would be wise to listen to the advice of  Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller who recently stated it's time that municipalities started listening to the people.

I implore you as municipal leaders to seriously reconsider the Ira Needles proposal or at least make the commitment to invest the funds necessary to secure an independent audit of what is taking place currently on site in regards to the Ira Needles proposal in order to adequately assess risk to our community and our valuable ground water resources. 

Thank you kindly for your time.

Louisette Lanteigne
700 Star Flower Ave.
Waterloo Ontario
N2V 2L2
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