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Herrema charges Queen's Park is playing games over Brooklin plans GEORGE ASHE As far as Durham Regional Chairman Gary Herrema is con- cerned, somebody in Queen's Park is playing fast and loose with the development of Brook- lin. "They're playing games in Queern's Park," Herrema said in a brief interview last week. It has now been a year since Durham Regional Council gave its bless- ing to the Brooklin ex- pansion proposal and over eight months since the necessary bylaws were passed. And yet, no decision has been made as to whether or not the mat- ter will be referred to the Ontario Municipal Board. The plan calls for Fir- st City Development Company Limited to build 2,200 single family homes in the hamlet giving it a population of 10,500 at the end of a ten- year period. However, before they can do that, First City has agreed to pay the full cost of extending the region's trunk water supply and sanitary sewer pipes to the ham- let. This means that the current residential and business community can hook into the system. Herrema said that the major stumbling block to final approval rests with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Its minister, Dennis Timbrell. The chairman main- tains that the ministry is concerned that the development will rob the province of valuable farm land, a claim that Herrema dismisses. The land in question is currently being cash- cropped. "It's not the kind of land a farmer will buy." Herrema also main- tains that the land is no longer suitable for family farming in the traditional sense. "They threw us a cur- ve ball that we can't seem to hit ,back," he said. Herrema, himself a farmer, has met with Timbrell on three occa- sions to discuss the mat- ter. "The people of Brook- lin are calling me regularly," he said ad- ding they are anxious for the development to proceed. Durham West MPP George Ashe agrees that the major objection to Brooklin's develop- ment is the issue of farm land. Ashe, who is also On- tario Minister Of Revenue, said last week that the ministry's re- luctance to approve the plan is based on farm- land. "Their mandate is to try and maintain it and unfortunately it's in con- flict,"he said. One thing that maÿ win Timbrell's approval is downsizing the water and sewer pipes. The current plans call for the sewers to be sized for a population of 25,000. If that is brought down to 15,000, the ministry may give its okay, Ashe indicated. He also said that the agriculture ministry had voiced similar con- cerns in 1974 and 1976. However, Ashe believes that the en- vironmental needs of Brooklin may finally win the plan's approval. Ashe claimed that the More than $300 dam- age has been done by vandals who spray painted obscenities on portables at three Whit- by schools since the re-. cent end of the academic year. According to the Dur- ham Regional Police Force, portables at Florence M. Heard Public School, Garden Street; St. Theresa Separate, Crawforth Street; and, Denis O'Connor High School, Giffard Street; were en- tered and damaged dur- ing the week of June 30 to July 5. Ministry of Environ- ment has not studied the water situation in the village and pointed out that over the last few years problems with septic tanks and well water have been well documented. "Nobody has ever communicated the en- vironmental needs to the Ministry of Environ- ment," he said adding that the plan would provide the solution to Brooklin's water problems. The minister in- dicated that he has asked the ministry's staff to look into the plan. "They should be able to substantiate the need." Ashe also indicated that he is seeking a cabinet- minister level approval of the plan but, if need by, he would take the matter to Premier Bill Davis. "I feel very strongly about it ..., he said ad- ding "...I may have no choice but to send it to the premier." Ashe said that a decision will probably be made, one way or the other, by the end of the month. Herrema said the Fir- st City Development Company has told him they are ready to begin work as soon as the ap- provals are given. Meanwhile, the people of Brooklin are still waiting for their sewers. A police spokesman said last week that fire extinguishers were dis- charged inside the buildings and what was described as "unusual" obscenities were written on the walls with red spray paint. Damage done to Denis O'Connor was estimated at $100 where one port- able was attacked. Two portables at Flor- ence M. Heard received $200 damage. Damage estimated for St. Theresa's Separ- ate School, where two portables were vandal- ized, was not available. TYPEWRITERS ADDING MACHINES. CALCILATORS SALES• SERVICEaRENTALS PRINTING AND OFFICÈ SUPPLIES 218 HamrýoodJ Ave S Ajax. Onitano 683 1968 "It's a poor day whenwe haven't helped a customer" Vandals do $300 damage to 3 sehools