Skip to main content

road removal

This story isn't about Cootes - but a nearby natural area - the Ancaster Councillor exhibits a less than novel argument, that old "Drive-Thru Nature" one where car access trumps environmental integrity. If you don't know this area, it is certainly just barely a road, and a very muddy rutted almost-road at that.

Conservation Authority puts Dundas Valley road closure bid on hold
Richard Leitner, Dundas Star News Staff, Published on Mar 13, 2009

The Hamilton Conservation Authority is delaying a request to close and acquire a 1.4- kilometre stretch of a Dundas Valley road to allow for discussions with the city on how to limit access by four-wheel-drive trucks, dumpers and bush partiers.

Directors agreed to hold off on a bid to close the “badly rutted” dirt track on Martin Road after Ancaster Councillor Lloyd Ferguson implored them to consider other solutions that will maintain it as a public right-of- way.

He suggested the road might be upgraded to allow one-way traffic and give “the elderly and disabled the opportunity to drive though nature,” as well as to potentially host events like bicycle marathons and community fundraisers. Martin Road, which runs between Jerseyville and Mineral Springs roads, is narrower than standard municipal streets and the section in question isn’t maintained by the city.

“I’m just a touch thin about taking privileges away from the elderly in our community because kids want to come in and get tanked up at bush parties,” Mr. Ferguson said.

“This is a real jewel right dead centre in Ancaster,” he said. “My fear is that if we just go and close this, what else are we going to lose?”

Chief administrative officer Steve Miazga said the authority can continue to allow access for special events, but the goal of the closure is to limit the dumping and damage created by unauthorized use.

If it assumes ownership from the city, the authority plans to create a public trail on the section, which comprises about the inner third of the road.

“This goes through an environmentally sensitive area, that being the Dundas Valley. It is a very important broad-leaf forest in that area and has many ecological features,” Mr. Miazga said.

“In global terms, the Dundas Valley also has endangered species. If, in fact, the road was to be established here in the future at any time or improvements undertaken to the dirt track, then of course we would have to undertake a study to show if any rare or endangered species were affected.”

While agreeing to defer action to allow for talks with the city, other directors expressed support for closing the road.

“I don’t want a battle over it,” said Flamborough Councillor Robert Pasuta. “We have vehicles moving in and bringing in material and dumping it off,” he said.

“I like the trail idea, that people can walk through and we maintain that. I walked that last year. It’s a beautiful walk.”

Vice-chair Don McKay said he believes authority ownership would improve the state of the roadway and still allow for appropriate community events, including the existing annual Autumn Stroll hosted by Ancaster’s Rotary clubs.

“It would be a bonus,” he said. “I think there would probably be a better opportunity because it would be maintained, would be looked after by the conservation authority, there would be trails there.”

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/166551

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Slow Sign and Turtle Time

THEY SAY: Information Report: April 3, 2017 SUBJECT/REPORT NO: Rare Turtle Recovery, Wildlife Corridor Issues and Roads of Issue at Cootes Paradise (PW16024a) - (City Wide) Traffic Issues on Cootes Drive Traffic Operations & Engineering has been working with the Ward 13 Councillor on traffic signage along Cootes Drive. Four (4) traffic signs (with flashing lights) operating during turtle migration season will be installed in the spring of 2017. The migration period for turtles is generally around the months of June, early July and September but can vary due to weather conditions. The traffic signs are useful in alerting motorists of potential turtle crossings on that roadway. RESTORE COOTES SAYS: Is it working? Is there any evidence that it is helping turtles or even slowing vehicles? We're betting it has little to no impact - the light is always flashing, if turtles are present or not, the road is built for speed and it makes it dangerous to slow down. We hope

Moving toward MacMarsh at McMaster

Some interesting approaches to looking at rehabilitating a McMaster parking lot to become a coldwater wetland. I'll be on the panel discussing the historical aspects of the site, with other smarter people, 10am Thursday, October 25, 2018. Two days prior, Patricia Johanson  will be speaking about the way she uses art, site-specific art, to help heal the earth. Should be inspiring. Hope you can make it.

Urquhart Butterfly Garden speaker series

A lovely butterfly garden is the perfect setting for this annual speaker series. August 4, 2018, Guest speaker: Doreen Nicoll You cannot have Monarch Butterflies without milkweed.  Doreen Nicoll has recently become a heroine for monarch butterflies, by insisting on her rights to grow milkweed in her naturalized garden in Burlington. Doreen  Nicoll has long understood that garden with nature and not against her is the best thing for our planet. She also knows that native plants are great at attracting butterflies and bees of all species. Doreen will be the first presenter in the Summer Series at the Urquhart Butterfly Garden and her topic will be Monarchs and Their Milkweed and naturalized gardening. She has wealth of information and is fun as well! The session will begin at 11 am Saturday on August 4 and last approximately one hour.  Please bring a chair. If it rains the session will be cancelled. For more information about the Urquhart Butterfly Garden please visit ur