Hot spots in York Region

The Scoop – Environmental Defence -Dec 21 2011

 A new development being proposed for the south shore of Lake Simcoe will have a large impact on one of the watershed’s largest forested areas. Metrus Developments proposed Maple Leaf Estates will turn a core part of North Gwillimbury Forest in the Town of Georgina into a large subdivision.

 Metrus is relying on a 28-year-old planning approval for a mobile home park to pave the way for its new plans for more than 1,000 detached homes. 

 The proposed development would disrupt a provincially significant wetland and destroy critical forest cover at a time when the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan calls for increasing forest cover in the watershed.  It would also isolate the Arnold C. Mathews Nature Reserve, created through the vision and generosity of local residents.

 A local residents group – the North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance – has formed to oppose the development and has just launched an action-oriented website.

 To join the action, learn more and see a map, go to www.SaveNGForest.org.

 A high tech sewage treatment plant has been proposed for northern York Region, to flow into Lake Simcoe, to treat the waste from mostly new urban growth to the year 2031, about 150,000 people.The level of treatment for this sewage treatment plant will be far more restrictive than anything else in the province, and will release very little phosphorus, the nutrient most negatively affecting Lake Simcoe.  

Yet concerns remain, because phosphorus isn’t the only thing that hurts Lake Simcoe.

 Among other things, people are worried about the health impacts of all the toxins in wastewater from pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Impacts on people and wildlife in the rivers and Lake Simcoe are basically unknown, and the province does not set standards for the treatment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

 Earlier this month the Chippewas of Georgina Island Georgina Island First Nation publicly criticized the project for not notifying the First Nation when plans changed and discharging waste water into Lake Simcoe became the “preferred alternative” over piping through the Oak Ridges Moraine and into Lake Ontario. 

 Just a few days ago York Regional Council, including Georgina Mayor Rob Grossi, delayed sending a report to the Province about its progress on the Environmental Assessment, worried that it would “imply tacit approval of something about which there remains many concerns”. According to a story in YorkRegion.com ultimately it will be council’s decision whether or not to proceed with the project.

 This winter the Upper York Sewage Solution team will be looking for suitable and willing sites, and presenting the results. It is imperative that the environmental impacts on rivers and the lake are the number one consideration.  

 The next opportunity to learn about this proposed project is January 3rd, 2012:

 At TUESDAY TALKS!

UYSS Project Office

1195 Stellar Drive, Unit 1

Newmarket

Drop in 6 p.m and 8 p.m.