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\ 2 - Orono weeteiy%ne», Wednesday, March 29.2000 ) Weekly Times Serving East Clarington and beyond since 1937 Subscriptions $2336 + $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@speedline.ca Phone/Fax (905) 983-5301 Publisher/Editor Marg Zwart Orono Forest Crown Land By; John Thomson Last Thursday night, approximately 200 people from our community gathered at a public meeting to discuss the future of the Oroho Forest Crown Land. I think a number of people, including myself, approached the meeting looking for a hidden agenda on the Government's part. We found none. In conversations with the Ministry of Natural Resources Representative, dur MPP and Councillor Young, I discovered a willingness and an opportunity for a community-based group to partner with the Ministry to maintain and operate the Crown Land. Since last Thursday night, I've had ihany discussions with a wide range of people, and it has become apparent that a community community based volunteer organization that would represent all, could and should be formed quickly. This community based organization would bring together all of the people who are interested in volunteering and supporting the Crown Land. It is an ideal, made in Orono solution'. This volunteer organization, "Friends of the Orono Forest" or "Orono Crown Land" Trust" whatever it is called, should be in place and be prepared to propose our representatives to the interim committee that the Ministry is forming. Ideally, this group would eventually become solely and legally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the lands. *As one woman said last Thursday night about the land, " it's not broke, why fix it?" She's right, but it does require stewardship. A community meeting will be held on April 6 at 7pm, upstairs in the Orono Arena and Community Centre. The meeting meeting will discuss and hopefully, organize a community-supported volunteer organization that will manage and maintain this precious precious natural resource and wilderness attraction. Whatever form this group takes, it should be in place and be prepared to operate operate before the Ministry representatives and consultants return in approximately 4-5 weeks*. I hope all who are interested are able to attend and bring a friend or friends. It was partly because of the size of the turnout ,at the last meeting that the MNR representative began to think that a comm unity- based organization could make this work. He was impressed at our community's response. We replied, "this is Orono". Dear Marg: \ v remarks about the * good I'm not from Orono but I turnout, it was mentioned that did attend the meeting at the- the future of these lands Arena last Thursday and was should be in the hands of local much impressed by the num- people, and administered by ber of interested people who the local Municipality. This, showed up. then, is another example of A few things struck me as Provincial downloading, strange. First, although there Local people are supposed to were several alternatives put choose an option, which may 'forward in terms of the struc- be 0 K if they have the knowl- türes involved (the weir, the edge and expertise to do so, dam, the railway bridge) but it see ms they are also nothing was said about possi- expected to pay for it. ble effects on the wildlife . In my opinion, the best population. thing to do would be get an Removal of the dam was estimate for any nee'essary. an option, which would allow structural work, a guesstimate the Rainbows higher up the for future maintenance, set up stream. But would that be a budget for that and make good or bad? What effect very sure whose pocket it would it have on other fish comes out of. But, if it ain't species? broke, let's just leave it alone. I also noticed that among . Jessica Markland all the complimentary analysis. Options as outlined dents, explained Messervey. are: repair, replace or remove At this point someone from existing dam, install a fixed the audience asked if the com- weir structure, or do nothing. munity could select members A second public meeting from among themselves, peo- MNR has hired Gartner dealing with the Land pie with a background knowl- Lee, Consulting Engineers to Management Plan for the edge of the lands, collect information, and pro- * 1,000 acres of crown land will After the meeting, vide technical support. hopefully happen by the end Messervey said he had Besides the Orono Mill of this year. received lots of offers from Pond Darn, there are six water Besides dealing with the the community to partner with management structures on the dams, bridges and weir, MNR them, rather than bring in a lot Forestry Lands that require wants the public to come up of other agencies. The local some decisions. These six with goals and objectives of community is prepared to structures will be evaluated what is going to happen on look after the future use of with respect to their structural these public lands. ' that property, he said. "If it is condition and usefulness. Once thé information has maintained into the future, the "Options for each of the been processed, MNR is look- local community will be front structures will be exam- ing at sitting down with a and centre of that," he stated, ined,"explained Messervey. group 10-12 people who have A community meeting is Residents in attendance an interest in this land, in the scheduled for Thursday, April were given a description of form of a working group. 6, 7:00 p.m., at the Orono the dams, the canal, the weir, Members of this group could Arena Community Centre, and the bridges on the include Ganaraska The purpose of this group is to Forestry lands, outlining the Conservation . Authority, form a .citizens committee to advantages and disadvantages Municipality of Clarington, work i MNR in mainte mainte possible remedial measures Board of Education, local fish taming . A wn Lands into on these structures. The and game clubs, Region of the future. Gartner Lee Engineer, did say, Durham, and 3-4 area resi- the Orono Mill Pond Dam and the Second Flume were in good shape. Messervey explained, the province is looking at divesting divesting to local government. "One of our objectives," he stated, "if it makes more sense for Clarington to be responsible for ongoing operation, [Mill Pond Dam] lets talk about it. On Sunday, 'March 26th, The victim passenger, We know we must have a 2000, at approximately 12:35 Marcus Matthew Werheid, plan, if we can no longer look a.m., a fatal motor vehicle a 8 e 21, of Newcastle was after it." collision occurred on ejected from the vehicle. , As soon as suggestions for Concession Road 3, in . The victim was transported the Mill Pond Dam have been Newcastle, near Gibson Road. to Lakeridge Health processed, MNR will be back Eric Zuvic, age 21, of Bowmanville, and later died for a second public meeting, Newcastle, was operating a of his injuries, dealing with just that struc- rcc * Pontiac Sunbird, traveling Eric Zuvic was arrested at ture. Messervey said they westbound on the third,con- the scene and held for a bail hope to be back in April or cess 'when he lost control on hearing. Charges are pend- May, with a preferred alter- the curve. The car entered a ing. Alcohol and speed are ative for that structure. That .ditch- and rolled over twice, believed to be factors in this alternative will be based on coming to rest on the front collision. The car was dcmol- public input and technical lawn of a residence. ished. m ee^ytdheau IT ONLY WED ^OURSELF IN THE FOOT TORY MPP APPEARS IN GM ICBW .MFO-MERUAL (continued from paget)