[All] Fw: Greenbelt Watch - May 2011

Wed May 18 11:48:46 EDT 2011

FYI

--- On Wed, 5/18/11, Environmental Defence <newsletter at environmentaldefence.ca> wrote:

From: Environmental Defence <newsletter at environmentaldefence.ca>
Subject: Greenbelt Watch - May 2011
To: butterflybluelu at rogers.com
Date: Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 11:44 AM

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IN THIS ISSUE:

UPDATES

Mount Nemo plateau, closer to protection!

The Brant/Brantford Greenbelt

The David Dunlap Observatory Parklands

TAKE ACTION!

Proposed Melancthon Quarry could be largest in Ontario history! 

EVENTS

Open House: Protecting Greenbelt Wetlands

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival

UPDATES

Mount Nemo plateau, closer to protection!

This month, Burlington council voted to support a prohibition of quarrying on the Nelson Aggregate lands on the Mount Nemo plateau. The prohibition was proposed in an amendment application by 
Protecting Escarpment Rural Lands (PERL) to re-designate the area for natural protection. The amendment also was supported by Halton Region and Conservation Halton.  

A joint board hearing into the 82-hectare quarry proposal submitted by Nelson Aggregates has been ongoing since November of last year. The PERL re-designation, which is the only application that asks whether the site should be permanently protected, must now be referred to a hearing of the Escarpment Commission Hearing Office.

Click the map to see a larger view.

The Brant/Brantford Greenbelt

The people in Brant/Brantford have a little secret. A secret Greenbelt, that is. This “greenbelt” lies only a few miles away from the western edge of the Ontario Greenbelt. It was established in 1980 by the Ontario government to set outside “permanent agricultural and rural related uses” in the midst of development squabbles on the edge of cities. 

Developers argue that the Brant/Brantford greenbelt has expired, and they have been busy buying up farmland and presenting development plans and 
maps to Brant County council. One developer’s map would see all farmland between Brantford and the western edge of the Ontario Greenbelt paved. 

Wonder why the Province excluded its very first “greenbelt” from the Ontario Greenbelt? Sign the 
petition to expand the Ontario Greenbelt into Brant County.  

The David Dunlap Observatory Parklands  

The Richmond Hill Naturalists, along with along with members of the community are seeking support for protection of the David Dunlap Observatory parklands and for its inclusion under the Greenbelt Act. The property sits geographically in the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM), atop the ORM aquifer complex that feeds the Don and Rouge rivers. There are also significant woodlands, deer and other flora and fauna that exist within this national heritage site. A decision from Ontario's Conservation Review Board recommends that 75% of the 189 acres be protected as a "cultural heritage landscape". Further reports from the TRCA, the York Region and the town staff are not favourable to development of the proposed 833 homes given that woodlands that cover approximately 50% of the site can all be removed if the plan is approved. The Toronto Historical Assocation, Heritage Canada Foundation, Town of Markham, Region of York and others have asked for help in protection. 

The OMB prehearing is scheduled for June 2, 2011 at the Town of Richmond Hill offices - 225 East Beaver Creek (Leslie & Hwy #7).

 To find out how you can help save The David Dunlap Observatory Parklands, click 
here.

TAKE ACTION!

Proposed Melancthon Quarry could be largest in Ontario history!

The town of Melancthon, community members, local farmers, First Nations and environmental groups are all opposing a major aggregate quarry application from a US-based hedge fund company, the Highland Companies in Dufferin County. The size of the proposed limestone quarry is mind-boggling: a parcel of land covering 2,300 acres and dug 50 feet deeper than Niagara Falls will make this the second largest quarry in North America.

The proposal for the quarry would also allow the company to dig 200 feet below the water table (deeper than Niagara Falls!). And while water from the region flows out to more than a million people nearby, according to a proposal put forward by the company, the limestone quarry will use 600 million litres of groundwater every single day. 

Sign the petition to stop the quarry 
here! 

EVENTS

Open House: Protecting Greenbelt Wetlands: How effective is policy? 

Ontario Nature, 
Ecojustice, 
Ducks Unlimited Canada and 
Earthroots invite you to attend one of their three open houses and public meetings to discuss the findings and recommendations of their report assessing the effectiveness of wetland policies in the Greenbelt. If you are interested in attending the open house and/or meeting, please reply to Joshua Wise at Ontario Nature (joshuaw at ontarionature.org  or 416-444-8419 ext. 273) as soon as possible to confirm. Please include details of which meeting you plan to attend.

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival, (Picton) June 4-5

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival will make its debut June 4-5 at historic Crystal Palace in Picton, in the heart of Prince Edward County, the newest wine region and fastest-growing culinary destination in Ontario. For the first time in Canada, the Cheese Festival will bring together outstanding cheesemakers from coast-to-coast so cheese enthusiasts and culinary adventurers can meet to learn, taste and buy the best in artisan, farmstead and specialty cheese—and sample fine wine, craft beer and artisanal foods. 

For more information click 
here.

OPEN HOUSE DATES:

May 30th (Oshawa) 

June 2nd (Grimsby) 

June 20th (Caledon)

DONATE NOW

           Help Environmental Defence create a world Canadians are proud to pass on  to their children.

          116 Spadina Avenue, Suite 300 | Toronto, Ontario M5V 2K6 | 1-877-399-2333

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