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Town seeks to grow Greenbelt with Fourteen Mile Creek lands by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 3 | Thursday, February 13, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville will head first to regional, then provincial government with the hope of having public land near Fourteen Mile Creek, between Upper Middle Road and the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), added to the Ontario Greenbelt. The Town will ask Halton Region to throw its weight behind an application to the Province to have publicly-owned valley land and municipal parks along Fourteen Mile Creek designated `urban river valley', which protects publicly-owned lands near urban waterways connected to the Greenbelt. The plan was unanimously supported by Oakville councillors at a special council meeting Monday. It was advanced by the area's councillor, Ward 4 Town and Regional Councillor Allan Elgar, who said the Town has been exploring opportunities to add land to the Greenbelt since 2008. Fourteen Mile Creek, which runs south of Upper Middle Road and north of the QEW , is designated as a natural heritage system in Halton's Official Plan, he said. Elgar told the Oakville Beaver Wednesday, it's no secret the community wants to preserve the land near Bronte Creek, along with the surrounding area, including Saw Whet and Deerfield golf courses; the Mid-Halton Water Pollution Control Plant; and the Halton Regional Centre. "I'm hoping all of the lands in the natural heritage system will be under protection," he said, describing how the lands play a key role in pro- It's great to see a municipality take leadership in expanding Ontario's Greenbelt. Oakville has been a true champion in protecting natural habitats, species and rivers, while balancing growth pressures in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. lieve the Province has a shared interest in growing the Greenbelt. "This initiative to add more land under the urban river valley designation of the Greenbelt Plan continues our efforts to create a cleaner, greener Oakville to be enjoyed by successive generations of Oakville residents," he said. If all goes according to plan, the lands along Fourteen Mile Creek between Upper Middle Road and the QEW will be the second time Oakville has helped grow Ontario's Greenbelt. Last year, in January, the Glenorchy Conservation Area -- a 255-hectare area of northern Oakville -- was the first addition to the 1.8 mil- lion-acre Greenbelt, which protects lands surrounding the Golden Horseshoe and throughout Ontario, since it was established in 2005. Environmental action organization Environmental Defence applauds the local council's efforts. "It's great to see a municipality take leadership in expanding Ontario's Greenbelt," said Erin Shapero, speaking on behalf of Environmental Defence. "Oakville has been a true champion in protecting natural habitats, species and rivers, while balancing growth pressures in the Greater Golden Horseshoe." Environmental Defence Erin Shapero tecting wildlife habitat and connecting them to other natural areas. "What we approved Monday night is only a portion. Hopefully, we'll get everything," he said. Council's request will go to Halton Regional council for its consideration Feb. 26. If approved there, an application will be made to the Province seeking approval. The move will ensure designated public lands will continue to be used for natural heritage and not sold for other uses. Mayor Rob Burton said it removes "uncertainty from the picture" and shows council has been persistent in achieving the highest level of protection for Oakville's green spaces. The mayor added the Town has reason to be- MONDAY FEBRUARY 17th, 2014 - PREVIEW FROM 1 to 2 P.M. AUCTION AT 2 P.M. 3.5 ct. 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