CATCH Articles:
Karst protection awaiting provincial response
Dec 16, 2007
The city hasn’t yet received a reply to its request that the province add 80 acres to the protected Eramosa Karst lands in upper Stoney Creek. A number of technical studies are also outstanding, resulting in another four month delay in road planning decisions in the area.
The lands are part of a provincially designated 435-acre Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) that recognizes the significance of “the best example in Ontario” of karst topography. If the province agrees, the 80 acres would be added to about 180 acres have already been given to the Hamilton Conservation Authority.
A staff report presented last week says Mayor Eisenberger wrote to Premier McGuinty at the beginning of October, but “to date, a response from the Premier’s Office has not been received by the Mayor’s Office”. The city has received an acknowledgement from McGuinty indicating that he has passed Eisenberger’s letter onto the Minister of the Environment.
The 80 acres are owned by the Ontario Realty Corporation (ORC) on behalf of the provincial government. The ORC has commissioned several technical reports on the lands to examine hydrogeology, ecology and possibly waterflow through the underground karst formations. Studies of traffic, noise and servicing are also underway, but staff say the reports have not yet been received by the city.
Ward councillor Brad Clark said the public process on the issue had been done “extremely well”, allowing secondary planning work to proceed on lands west of Upper Mount Albion Road, while respecting resident requests for more protection of the lands near Rymal and Second Road West, and delaying approval of a new road passing through that area.
“I just wanted to compliment everyone that’s involved, including Friends of the Eramosa Karst, who have been working hard on the preservation of this,” he stated. “And I’ve been struck by the number of people internationally who are coming forward arguing for preservation.”
In September, the Hamilton Conservation Authority agreed to manage the additional 80 acres if they are donated by the ORC after receiving letters from three leading karst experts opposing development on the lands and expressing concern that it will disrupt water flows.
The staff report noted that the proposed road, now on hold until April, is one of several transportation modifications they believe are necessary to service residential and commercial growth south of Rymal Road including the Summit Park development and the so-called Meadowlands East commercial area near Upper Centennial.
This week’s Stoney Creek News also reports on the karst protection situation.