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Experts look at Merton Lands fit with Greenbelt by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 3 | Wednesday, April 9, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com With the Merton Lands on the April 14 agenda of a Town of Oakville Planning and Development Council meeting, Oakville MPP and Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn hosted an information session on Ontario Greenbelt expansion Monday. About 50 people, including representatives from Fourteen Mile Creek Residents' Association, Oakvillegreen Conservation Association and Deerfield Members' Association, gathered at OE Banquet Hall & Conference Centre. Flynn said the beauty of the Ontario Greenbelt is that it can only grow -- not get any smaller. Established in 2005 to protect 1.8 million-acres of environmentallysensitive areas and farmlands, it surrounds the Golden Horseshoe. Not only has the Greenbelt preserved natural green space, Glenorchy Conservation Area, a 255-hectare area of northern Oakville was also added to it last year. "... At the end of the day, what we were able to do was something that, I think, was remarkable. We took land that was slated for pretty heavy urban development and instead turned it into a conservation area." Flynn said he believes the same is feasible in protecting some of the Merton Lands, which sit near Fourteen Mile Creek, between Upper Middle Road and the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW). He said he supports the Town of Oakville's application to the Province to have publicly-owned valley land and municipal parks along Fourteen Mile Creek designated `urban river valley.' That protects publicly-owned lands near urban waterways connected to the Greenbelt. It's in line with what he's been working towards, said Flynn, indicating in February, he called on the Minister of Infrastructure to cancel any plans to sell sensitive lands included in the natural heritage system of Fourteen Mile Creek. Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation CEO Burkhard Mausberg and Conservation Halton's Communication and Marketing Director Hassaan Basit and Watershed Planner Nigel Finney were also on-hand Monday. Burkhard spoke about the Greenbelt's benefits -- it protects drinking water, provides fresh air and supports the local food movement Burkhard Mausberg and economy. He admitted designating lands as Greenbelt takes time -- it involves lengthy consultation, gathering scientific evidence and an application made by municipal and regional governments to the Province. Basit and Finney spoke about Conservation Halton's role in protecting, restoring and managing natural resources in the local watershed -- from lake to escarpment. Basit said the conservation authority acts as steward of the lands and is charged with the restoration and care of Glenorchy Conservation Area. Noting how there is considerable pressure on the natural environment, with Halton's population growing from 450,000 to 700,000 by 2021, he said it's important environmental planning and regulations are at the forefront of, and not an afterthought to, community development. Finney explained the conservation area is continuously being planted with forest seeds so the landscape can retain more water and, in turn, create a healthier watershed with clean streams and diverse forests. Phil Groff, past-president of Deerfield Member's Association, told the Oakville Beaver after the meeting, if the Deerfield Golf Club is left as it is today, without any kind of protection, residents could be seeing the end of the last public golf club. He noted how the future is uncertain with the possibility the government could decide to sell the lands or designate it for development. "It's an unsettling time for everyone trying to retain recreation space for recreational golfers in Oakville," he added. "I know people are concerned about what's going on in their backyard, what's happening to the natural environment, what's happening to the golf course and what's happening to the development potential in Saw Whet, but I've always been optimistic and I think if you're optimistic you can come up with a Glenorchy ," he said. He called for a "reasonable approach." "I don't want to gamble on this land. I think it's really important for the future of our community," he said, noting he believes the community's needs would best be met if a longterm arrangement allowed Deerfield to continue. In the short term, he said the Province needs to commit to not selling the lands, which he is working on. Flynn added the question of whether lands near North Service Road could be seen as a spot for limited development because of its proximity to the highway should be explored. The next steps, he said will be for the Town to refine its Greenbelt application to the Province and make a decision on the Merton Lands. Town staff presented a draft plan to the public two weeks ago and will host an April 14 open house in the Town Hall South Atrium between 5-7 p.m., followed by a public meeting at Planning and Development Council. For more, visit www.oakville.ca. New Patients Welcome! Our door is always open We pride ourselves on the high quality of treatment, service and care we provide. We are always very happy to welcome new patients to our practice, and I welcome your call to schedule a new patient or emergency appointment with us! My office offers a wide range of complete modern dental care in a state of the art facility. Dr. Stephen Phelan, DDS Before One area that is a focus of my practice is to help the many people suffering from advanced tooth wear and erosion. 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