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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, November 8, 1995 - 9 by Lorna Miller Was it ultimate frustra- tion that forced Gordon White to lay waste to his woodlot bordering on the West Marsh? Or, as some residents speculated, was it sheer vin- dictiveness at not getting his way regarding the route of the Waterfront Trail Road? Was he weary of the battle to save the marsh? Whatever drove his actions, they so shocked the residents of Cove Road, that if Elvis had been sighted decimating their prize roses with a weed-whacker, he wouldn't have raised an eye- brow. For Mr. Gordon White, landowner and until recent- ly, longtime resident of Cove Road, eco-driven firebrand and leader of the movement to prevent the west-marsh from falling into the hands of mendacious, eco-decimating big business, had clear-cut his acreage at the west end of Cove Road. Also, his pri- vate road, Cove Road, had been extended with broken concrete slabs and fI to the marsh edge. The once wooded gentle slopes had been stripped of grass. The raw earth lay naked to the onslaught of wind and rain. Enormous piles of severed limbs lay next to piles of dismembered trunks. Ward Two Councillor Pat Pingle, denounced White's actions as "a slaughter." "I don't even recognize this area now. It used to have such dense undergrowth I couldn't even walk into it," she says. "I don't under- stand why he did this." Councillor Pingle, holding back tears, surveyed the mire of vegetation chumed into the mud by the deep- treaded tires of heavy equip- ment. "I have no idea what repercussions this will have on the wildlife. Until now there were foxes, wolves, rabbits, beaver, deer and an abundant bird population. Now look-at it." Councillor Pingle was made aware of the situation by Les Creamer, Senior Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, in a memo directed to the Mayor and Council on November 2, 1995 that informed them of the clear- cutting. A meeting was arranged with the Ministry of Natural Resources on the site at 10:00 a.m. to assess the extent of the destruction and the ensuing course of action to take. "I must commend Les Creamer for his prompt and efficient attention to this matter," says Pingle. "I have spoken with him and asked him to keep me informed." Mr. Creamer and Greg Bales of the Ministry met at the site as planned. After a walk over the site, Mr. Creamer expressed "serious concerns" about the viola- tion of the Region's Tree Cutting By-Law. Mr. Bales was concerned about the pending flood problem and it's effect on the marsh, the fish, flora and birdlife and the dismal dilemma of how to dispose of the detritus. Mr. White then joined them. When asked if he were aware of the Region's Tree Cutting By-Law, which stip- ulates that an "Intention to Cut" must be filed before cutting any trees on a wood- lot larger than half an acre, Mr. White countered: "What is classified as a tree?" "Would you state your reason for doing this?" Mr. Creamer asked. "These ten lots are for sale and prospective buyers couldn't see the lots for the trees," White stated. Mr. Bales and Mr. Creamer said they would inform Mr. White of the find- ings of their investigations into the issue at a latter date. Meanwhile, the original nature of the marsh is on the verge of disappearing into legend. Brian Henshaw, Environmental Consultant and Qualified Wetland Evaluator, and a voluntary attendant at the Waterfront Trust meetings, says, "the worse damage was the removal of the Riparian veg- etation, those bushes, shrubs, trees and plants that thrive along the banks of watercourses. These pro- tect the marsh from runoff. Half of the stuff is upland growth, old orchards and Frustrated Landowner Clearcuts is Poperty hawthom, fnot a great loss." Mr. Henshaw is most con- cerned that Mr. White might continue on this destructive path while the various agen- ces, ministries, and depart- ments wade through the river of investigative red tape. "He may move into the most fragile and sensitive area of the marsh, south of the road extension," he says. "This area is home to rare plants. West Marsh is the most important wetland on the north shore of Ontario, on par with the Second Marsh." Mr. John OToole, M.P.P. Durham East, says that he drove by the site and saw the brush removed from the lots, but couldn't assess what damage had been done environmentally. However, he believes that the pressure to find a suitable route for the Waterfront Trail through the marsh area has put pressure on everyone involved. The residents of vilage Friday November 10 8:00 PM. Cove Road have been fight- ing to keep their road a pri- vate one rather than become a part of the Waterfront Trail. "We must respect the environment," he says. "But we must also respect citi- zen's right to privacy." Mr. Henshaw says that Mr. White may have acted out of frustration at what he claims were under-the-table dealings between the Waterfront Trust, the Municipality, St. Mary's Ceinent Company, Ontario Hydro and citizen's groups. "Mr. White should not be seen as doing this out of vin- dictiveness but due to frus- tration over back-room deal- ings," he said. Answers to what drove Mr. White to devastate his own woodlot may be con- tained in the first report of the Crombie Waterfront Trail Trust. A report is to be made public at the Orono Town Hall on November 13. .mMidnight WEAR YOUR P.J.'S AND LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS AT PARTICIPATINGMEHAT MERCHANTS COME AND GET IN ON THE FUN IN Newcastle Village LI Am -- 'Y