Another meeting called on Highland Gardens Park pumping station
December 2, 2005

The city has announced a brief extension of the public comment period on its proposal to locate a pumping station in Highland Gardens Park. It will also hold another public meeting on the issue on Wednesday evening. The comment period was scheduled to end on Monday, but has now been extended until Friday, December 9 according to a press release issued yesterday.

At issue is the possible impact of putting a new water pumping station in the park on Hillcrest Avenue at the south end of Mountain Avenue in the Kirkendall neighbourhood. The park is part of a designated environmentally significant area that encompasses much of the escarpment face across the city.

Pressure District H3 (Ward 1 & 2).

The city is trying to upgrade water pressure in an area stretching along Aberdeen Avenue from St. Joseph's Hospital to Chedoke Golf Course. A class environmental assessment begun in August 2004 initially adopted a solution that would have closed Beckett Drive for about four months to install new pipes. That plan has now been replaced by one that features a water pumping station in the east end of Highland Gardens Park.

The change has generated concerns from nearby residents and others in the neighbourhood who utilize the popular park. The situation has been complicated by uncertainty about the size of the pumping station. The assessment report says it will have a footprint of approximately 150 square metres.

The notice issued yesterday acknowledged that the city has received "several submissions" and that it needs more time to respond. "This extension will provide an opportunity to negotiate a resolution of outstanding issues that were raised during the initial 60-day review period."

The public meeting will take place at St. Joseph 's Parish Hall at Locke and Herkimer from 7 to 9 pm on December 7. The class assessment process allows any citizen who is unhappy with the study conclusions to request a "bump-up" to a full environmental assessment. A bump-up for this assessment now must be filed by December 16.

City documents and maps relating to the proposal can be found at
http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/cityandgovernment/
citydepartments/publicworks/capitalplanning/strategicplanning/
reportspresentations.htm.