Visit www.oakville.ca Environmental assessment Storm Sewer Master Plan Phase 1: Data collection and preliminary information needs assessment The Town of Oakville has started the first phase of a town-wide comprehensive Storm Sewer Master Plan. This study will collect information on existing infrastructure, 1983 and older, south of the QEW as well as College Park and Falgarwood Drive. It will identify deficiencies to the sewers within that area and develop an implementation plan for the management of stormwater in the built up portions of the town. In this phase, the study will prioritize flood risk issues throughout the town. Next phases will outline alternative solutions and include public presentations. Public Information Centres (PICs) will be scheduled to provide the public with an opportunity to review and discuss issues related to the study; fall dates will be posted on the towns website at www.oakville.ca The study will be conducted in compliance with Section A.2.7 Master Plans, as defined in the Municipal Engineers Association Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (June 2000) updated in 2007, which will address Phases 1 and 2 of the Class EA Process. We are interested in hearing any comments or input that you may have about this study. Comments and information are collected to assist the Town of Oakville in meeting the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act. This material will be maintained on file for use during the study and may be included in study documentation. If you require further information, or if you have specific comments related to this study, please contact: Samaresh Das, Water Resources Engineer, Town of Oakville, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON L6H 0H3. Tel: 905-845-6601, ext. 3867. sdas@oakville.ca Ron Scheckenberger, Project Manager, AMEC Earth & Environmental, 3215 North Service Road, P. O. Box 220, Burlington, ON L7R 3Y2. Tel: 905-335-2353. ron.scheckenberger@amec.com Flood Mitigation Opportunities Study Fourteen Mile Creek / McCraney Creek systems The Town of Oakville has started an environmental study to assess mitigation and flood reduction alternatives for the Fourteen Mile Creek and McCraney Creek from Dundas Street to Lake Ontario and from Bronte Road to Dorval Drive. This study will involve a detailed evaluation of creek flood-prone sites to determine the most viable and effective flood mitigation alternatives. The study is being conducted in accordance with the requirements as described in the Municipal Engineers Associations Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) document (October 2000, as amended in 2007), which is approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. Public consultation dates will be posted on the towns website at www.oakville.ca as the project progresses. These information sessions will provide you with an opportunity to meet the project team, review the study outline and discuss any concerns. The town is also asking for your help to provide information on any flooding you have observed along either creek. When the study is complete, an Environmental Study Report will be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and made available for public review. Updates on the project will be posted on the towns website. For more information on this study, please visit www.oakville.ca/pn-11jul15.htm or scan here To provide comments or request additional information about this project, please contact: Samaresh Das, Water Resources Engineer, Town of Oakville, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON L6H 0H3. Tel: 905-845-6601, ext. 3867. Fax: 905-338-4159. sdas@oakville.ca Ron Scheckenberger, Project Manager, AMEC Earth and Environmental, 3215 North Service Road, Box 220, Burlington, Ontario L7R 3Y2. Tel: 905-335-2353. Toll free: 1-886-751-2353. Fax: 905-335-1414. ron.scheckenberger@amec.com Information will be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record. Emancipation Day Family Picnic Monday, August 1, 2011 1 - 4 p.m. at Georges Square Pack your picnic basket, bring the lawn chairs and have fun at the Emancipation Day Family Picnic. Hosted by the Oakville Museum and the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH), the picnic commemorates slavery being abolished in Canada, on August 1, 1834. Book signing with Natasha L. Henry, author of Emancipation Day: Celebrating Freedom in Canada Activities for the kids including games, crafts and a scavenger hunt! Performances by: The Hope *ospel Choir r The Muhtadi World Drummers r Canadian Caribbean Steel Band For more information, call the Oakville Museum at 905 338-4400, or visit www.oakvillemuseum.ca w w w .in si d eH A LT O N .c o m O A K V IL LE B E A V E R W ed n es d ay , J u ly 2 7, 2 01 1 8 NIMBYism is still an obstacle The (housing) wait times are most troubling because these peo- ple cant plan their lives. Regardless of their issues, it could be mental health, a developmental handicap, a disability, they have no future to look forward to in a homeits the permanent housing piece thats non-existent. The latest figures show the wait times for social housing in Halton is close to the three-year mark, up about 10 per cent from 2009. Statistics show 80 per cent of appli- cants will drop off the list if theyre not placed within three years. A report presented to regional councillors Wednesday shows those waiting for a one-bedroom apart- ment will virtually never be placed. Smith believes the wait times are longer than whats reported. The folks that we support, whatever their issue is for needing social housing, they wont even apply because of the lengthy wait- ing list. They say its useless, its hopeless. Thats very common now. The Regions housing strategy aims to create 60 to 100 new social housing units a year. But Smith says with the demand rising, apart- ment vacancies and new apartment builds dwindling, and no new fed- eral or provincial funding on the horizon, the Region must take on a collaborative approach to deal with affordable housing. There are the private sector peo- ple willing to invest in the creation of affordable housing. We would turn to Region and Towns to ask, what can you ante up? It could be avail- able land or waving development charges, something to support the private sector in investing. A 2008 publication by Community Development Halton cites a lack of affordable housing as the main reason former Halton residents migrate to neighbouring communities. The report shows Hamilton is the top destination for migrants from Halton with 19 per cent intake, followed by Wellington and Simcoe counties, Niagara Region and Waterloo. Conversely, the vast majority of Halton newcomers are migrating from Peel Region (38 per cent) fol- lowed by Toronto at 20 per cent. The majority of people working in the service industry, like McDonalds, they dont live in Halton, said Smith. The challenge we have is the NIMBYism, he added, citing the outcry from residents over the notion of developing affordable housing units on former Department of National Defence (DND) lands in south Oakville. Smith described the treatment of affordable housing advocates at the DND meeting as horrendous. The response was we dont want our property values affected. If you cant afford to live here, leave. AND SMILE: Acorn Flowers Shoppe owner Margaret DeVries creates bouquets for the 2011 Make Someone Smile Week program. The shop joined in the program that sees floral industry suppliers providing the mugs and flowers, and local florists designing arrangements for delivery to local hospital patients, seniors in nursing and assisted-living homes and in hospices. Be happy MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER Continued from page 3