<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;">Hi folks<div><br></div><div>PERL is a group of concerned citizens fighting to stop Mount Nemo at the OMB. This hearing could result in rulings that could influence projects such as Capital Paving in West Montrose or the Highland Quarry so it's a case worth watching.</div><div><br></div><div>Kudos go out to Waterloo Region based hydrologist Ray Blackport who was hired by PERL to help defend the natural features and water resources of this area.</div><div><br></div><div>Details of their latest update is below for your reference.</div><div><br></div><div>Lulu </div><div><br>--- On <b>Thu, 7/21/11, PERL <i><perl@perlofburlington.org></i></b> wrote:<br><blockquote style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"><br>From: PERL <perl@perlofburlington.org><br>Subject: A sunny summer PERL update<br>To:
"Elizabeth Cox" <ecox2@cogeco.ca><br>Date: Thursday, July 21, 2011, 8:43 PM<br><br><div id="yiv376441275">
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<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><b><font color="#339966" size="5" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:16pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">A
warm summer greeting from PERL</span></font></b></p>
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<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">As you enjoy our sunny summer weather, we wanted to give
you an update on the important work taking place to protect the Escarpment. Here
are the answers to many of the questions we receive.</span></font></p>
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<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><b><font color="#339966" size="4" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">What’s happening at
the hearings?</span></font></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font color="#339966" size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:12pt;">Joint Board Hearing
(Ontario Municipal Board and Environmental Tribunal) on the Nelson Aggregate
application for a new quarry on Mt Nemo</span></font></p>
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<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">After over a year in pre-hearings, the actual hearings
started in November 2010 and continued until mid June when they broke for the
summer. Hearings will start again on August 22 and are expected to
continue at least until December, but more likely until early 2012.
</span></font></p>
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<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">Nelson Aggregate’s lawyers and experts recently
completed their presentation. Those opposing the application, i.e.
the City of Burlington, Halton Region, Niagara Escarpment Commission,
Conservation Halton and PERL, have started to present the opposing case.
We<font color="#ff00ff"><span style="COLOR:fuchsia;"> </span></font>will
continue to present the reasons why another quarry on Mt Nemo would negatively
affect this fragile ecosystem and our quality of life.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"> <br>Obviously it is far too early to
provide any kind of forecast as to the outcome of the hearings. However
PERL has been encouraged by testimony such as that provided by Ray Blackport,
PERL’s hydrogeology expert, who used Nelson’s own data to rebut its position and
suggest that important wetlands adjacent to the proposed quarry would dry up if
the quarry went ahead. </span></font></p>
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<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">We are very appreciative of the small core of loyal PERL
supporters who have attended the hearings (generally Monday-Thursday, 10 am-4
pm, at the Quality Inn on Bronte Road in Oakville) – thanks so much!
<b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">Please consider coming for even an hour when
the hearings start up again.</span></b> More attendees would let the Hearing
Officers know that the community cares about the land use on Mount Nemo – they
identified community support as important to the final decision. We
need your involvement – however limited!</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><b><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;"></span></font></b> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM:6pt;MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;MARGIN-RIGHT:0in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><b><font color="#339966" size="4" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">Is land
re-designation possible?</span></font></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">Incredibly, while the current designation of the area
puts extraordinary limits on development by companies and individuals, aggregate
mining can be exempted. For this reason, we at PERL are also working hard
to have the designation for the area changed so that no quarrying would be
allowed – initially for the proposed quarry lands, but eventually for the whole
Mt Nemo plateau. </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></span></font> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM:6pt;MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;MARGIN-RIGHT:0in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><b><font color="#339966" size="4" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">How’s the fundraising
going?</span></font></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">We have managed to stay in the game thanks to
successful musical events and your generous donations. In order to keep
advocating for the Mount Nemo plateau community and environment, we need
the immediate and broader communities to stand up for the protection of this
precious area by continuing to support PERL. We hope to have more than one
exciting event within the next few months, but in the meantime <b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">donations</span></b> and <b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">purchases of the beautiful Mt Nemo print</span></b>
tell us that you care (flyer attached). </span></font></p>
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<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM:6pt;MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;MARGIN-RIGHT:0in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><b><font color="#339966" size="4" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">How is the Nemo 7G
initiative coming along?</span></font></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM:6pt;MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;MARGIN-RIGHT:0in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><b><font color="#339966" size="4" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;"></span></font></b><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">
Under the PERL umbrella, Nemo 7G is<font color="navy"><span style="COLOR:navy;"> </span></font>group of community individuals whose
mission is to gather broad-scale
community input in order to form a seven-generation vision for the Mt Nemo
plateau. The process has been very
positively received, and supported by the City of Burlington and
through a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></span></font> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">Two public community sessions were held. At the
first session in January, people recalled the history of the area and
identified what makes it such a special place. The second session in
February offered participants the opportunity to express their future vision of
the area. While many people wanted to keep it the way it is, there were
also lots of ideas of how the area could evolve ecologically, socially and
economically. </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></span></font> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">In June, Nemo 7G organized Mt Nemo Day, an opportunity
for the community to learn more about the area, through “open door” type visits
to Lowville Park, Mt Nemo Conservation area, a local farm, a riding stable, a
sculpture studio and to the Nelson quarry. Attendees provided new input
into the Mount Nemo vision. </span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></span></font> </p><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font color="#008080" size="4" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">Community members
tell their stories on video.</span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font color="#008080" size="4" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;"></span></font> </p></span></font>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"> PERL has begun to post a
series of video stories from members of our community on its Facebook
page (see link below - and click on
<em>Mt Nemo Stories</em>) - check the site regularly for
more videos to come. We thank all those who participated
in this
project!</span></font><font color="#339966" size="4" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial"> </font></span></font></p><font color="#339966" size="4" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">
</span></font><p dir="ltr"><font color="#339966" size="4" face="Calibri"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial"> </font></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><b><font color="#339966" size="4" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;">Where can I get
updates on what’s happening?</span></font></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><b><font color="#339966" size="4" face="Calibri"><span style="COLOR:#339966;FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-WEIGHT:bold;"></span></font></b> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.75in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">PERL now has a very active Facebook page with over 1000
friends. Check it out at <font color="#339966"><span style="COLOR:#339966;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Protecting-Escarpment-Rural-Land-PERL/74005934586"><font color="#339966"><span style="COLOR:#339966;">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Protecting-Escarpment-Rural-Land-PERL/74005934586</span></font></a>
and add your comments.</span></font></span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></span></font> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></span></font> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;">If you ever have any questions or would like to help out
in any of our upcoming events, please contact us at <font color="#339966"><span style="COLOR:#339966;"><a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:perl@perlofburlington.org" target="_blank" href="/mc/compose?to=perl@perlofburlington.org"><font color="#339966"><span style="COLOR:#339966;">perl@perlofburlington.org</span></font></a>.</span></font></span></font></p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></span></font> </p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:150%;MARGIN-BOTTOM:0pt;MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;MARGIN-RIGHT:0in;"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT:150%;FONT-FAMILY:Calibri;FONT-SIZE:12pt;">More updates to
come. Stay tuned! </span></font></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:150%;MARGIN-BOTTOM:0pt;MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;MARGIN-RIGHT:0in;"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT:150%;FONT-FAMILY:Calibri;FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></span></font> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM:0pt;MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;MARGIN-RIGHT:0in;"><i><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-STYLE:italic;FONT-FAMILY:Calibri;FONT-SIZE:12pt;">Your PERL
Executive</span></font></i></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM:0pt;MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;MARGIN-RIGHT:0in;"><i><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-STYLE:italic;FONT-FAMILY:Calibri;FONT-SIZE:12pt;">perl@perlofburlington.org</span></font></i></p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:150%;MARGIN-BOTTOM:0pt;MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;MARGIN-RIGHT:0in;"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT:150%;FONT-FAMILY:Calibri;FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></span></font> </p>
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:150%;MARGIN-BOTTOM:0pt;MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;MARGIN-RIGHT:0in;"><font color="#3b3b3b" size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT:150%;DISPLAY:none;FONT-FAMILY:Calibri;COLOR:#3b3b3b;FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></span></font> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-LEFT:0.5in;" class="yiv376441275MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><span style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;"></span></font> </p></div></font></div>
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