< - CUtroo Weekly W«i te *lay, IN toi Mr t \ >0»K? \ Weekly Times Serving East Claringtc sinte 1937 Letter to the Editor Subscriptions $23.36 + $1.64 G.S.T. = $25.00/year Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 Publishing 50 Issues Annually at the Office of Publication 5310 Main Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB 1M0 E-Mail Address: oronotimes@speedllne.ca Phone/Fax (905) 983-5301 Publisher/Editor Marg Zwart THE BRIGHTEST JEWEL IN CLARINGTON'S CROWN A public Open House on the Wilmot Creek Watershed Study was held at the Pines school on Thursday February 10th. Mark Peacock of the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) gave a short presentation. He dealt mostly with the history of the creek, how the early settlers cleared and deforested the -land, and left a terrain mostly of sand dunes. Since the end of WWIi reforestation and conservation measures have greatly improved the Wilmot, and several species of fish have returned to their spawning grounds but not, as yet, the Atlantic salmon. Members of the public are invited to express their concerns about the Wilmot, and all of the estimated 50 residents who attended the meeting either completed forms provided or took them home for further thought. Perhaps because of time limitations, many existing situations on the Wilmot were not mentioned or discussed. These would include the Lishman fur garment factory and the trust fund that was established to prevent future degradation of the creek. A much greater threat is the proposed route of the ITwy. 407 extension, which will eût across the whole headwater area of the Wilmot, and impact on every tributary. One resident questioned whether the GRCA plan for the Wilmot, which is due in December 2000, will have any teeth? How will its recommendations be enforced? Peacock commented commented that perhaps enforcement is not always the best way, and said that it is up to the Municipality to decide whether to adopt the findings of the study into their Official Plan. In other words, there is little hope of implementing the Plan's recommendations if the Municipality does not adopt it. One situation, which is common along the banks of the creek and its tributaries, is the uncontrolled access of cattle into the stream. This breaks down the banks and pollutes the water. Since the entire Wilmot Creek watershed is located in the Municipality of Clarington, perhaps it's time they took more interest in farming practices in the area, and offered advice to farmers to rectify the situation. No mention was made of proposed developments along the creek. It seems inevitable that, if the 407 does get extended into Clarington, increasing pressure will be put on the Municipality to allow commercial and residential development around Wilmot Creek. Setbacks from creeks continue to be a contentious issue around the Black and. Farewell creeks in Courtice, both of which are (or were?) cold water streams. Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) recommends a 30 metre setback from cold water streams and 15 metres from warm water streams. The Clarington Official Plan used to. adhere to _ these guidelines but in 1996 Official plan reduced the setbacks to only 5 metres. Since then, "setback exceptions" have been allowed, meaning no setbacks at all. This has caused serious and permanent damage to the Black and Farewell creeks and their fish habitat. Let's make sure our elected representatives , do not allow similar adverse developments to occur along the Wilmot. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. As soon as possible inventory should be taken, with the assistance of the public, of existing situations that need to be rectified. As an example, just north of Taunton Road, several complaints have been made about a collection of trailers right by the creek, which are used in the summer months'by friends and relatives of the landowners. There are bylaws in almost every Municipality against living m a trailer anywhere except in a licensed Trailer Park. But nothing has been done about this situation. situation. In the same location, heavy equipment'is intermittently used to cut and drag trees out of the stream. This has caused damage to spawning beds from silt deposits. Oil spills have also occurred in the same location. < - Wilmot Creek is known throughout the Province and beyond as a very important fishery. Moreover, its natural beauty and abundance of plant and animal species make it an important part of our Natural Heritage. It is up to all of us to stay alert and guard it from harm. - , By: Jessica Markland, Libby Racgnsky Bill Woods ATT. MARG ZWART Dear Marg, As a concerned citizen, I'm wondering about the future of the Wilmot Creek. In June of 1999,1 send a letter to the authorities regarding the degradation of the creek, by the trailer park activities. Nothing was done with this matter, so I'm appealing to you to print this and let others others know what is going on. As everyone knows, this is one of the only pristine water ways we have in the Region, and it is in danger. The trailer park is close to the Wilmot Creek, and I was wondering where the sewage and garbage is going? Are they using pesticides in the creek area? Are there any other dangers dangers going on near this precious precious creek? Can something be done? Sincerely, Deb Suddard COUNCIL NOTES These notes were taken at the General Purpose and Administration Committee meeting, held Monday February 14, 9:30 a.m., at the Municipal council chambers. Valley's 2000 loan Representatives from the Valleys 2000 project, asked for and received an interest free loan of $138,000. Valleys 2000 is a community community based organization of volunteers, volunteers, who share a vision of developing trails within the Bowmanville Creek and Soper Creek valleys. The sum of $ 16,000 will be allocated to Valleys 2000 to retain à fundraising consultant and an additional $34,000 to retain a consultant for design and engineering works for the trail system. If the fundraising consultant consultant confirms to Council that there are sufficient funds in the community to support the project, the balance of $88,000 will be allocated to Valleys 1 2000. The total capital cost of the project ' is $5.9 million, excluding 'the cost of land acquisition costs. The extensive plan, which will take years to complete, includes a trail system from Hwy. 2 to Lake Ontario. Valleys 2000 will concentrate concentrate on improvements to the trail systems and valieylands between King Street and Baseline Road, till sufficient funds are raised to include additional elements, Transit service report Councillors spent a fair bit of time discussing a consultant's consultant's report on options foi- public transit services. ENTRA Consultants and the Regional Transit Co-ordinating Co-ordinating Committee prepared a report^to foster continued discussion discussion towards implementing service improvements, with an eye on seamless public transit system throughout Durham Region. Currently Clarington is serviced by GO Transit, along the Hwy. 2 corridor, from Newcastle westward. Oshawa Transit operates a bus in Courtice, with a single loop -- Nash to Courtice Rd. west on Hwy. 2, and back to Oshawa. Clarington does not pay Oshawa transit for this service. service. Income is generated through fares alone. The report suggests a "floating" zone fee structure be implemented across the Region. Under this structure, Clarington riders would pay $1.75 to ride through Clarington, and Oshawa, and pay an additional $1.75 if they were to go on into Whitby, Ajax or Pickering. A passenger boarding the bus in Newcastle, under the current fee structure is paying $3.30 to get to Oshawa, and $5.36 to get to Pickering. If the "floating" zone fee were to be adopted in Clarington, the lower fees would have to be subsidized. The ENTRA report-states the lower fees would create a $43,000 deficit, based on current current ridership. Mayor Hamre put forward a motion to table the report for one week. She felt the report was totally confusing, and councillors needed more time to thoroughly read the report. That motion carried. Subscribe to the Orono Weekly Times iU>ligh<int@(idf.r.om EAtiM tS PMCK KM EHOUBITO ANSWERS