Bill 59 2010

An Act to protect the feeder lands of the Eramosa Karst

Preamble

The Eramosa Karst Conservation Area in Stoney Creek was designated by the Ministry of Natural Resources as Ontario's first provincially significant Area of Natural and Scientific Interest in 2003.  In October 2006, the Government of Ontario donated approximately 73 hectares of this land to the Hamilton Conservation Authority to be preserved as a conservation area.  However, approximately 36 hectares of feeder lands, east of the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area, is managed by the Ontario Realty Corporation.  The Ontario Realty Corporation plans to sell the feeder lands for development.  Development of the feeder lands would cut off the existing natural water supply to the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area and ultimately cause its demise as a natural ecosystem.

Saving the feeder lands from development is in the long-term public interest.  The public interest must triumph over private gain and a short-term increase in government funds. 

It is essential that the geologically unique Eramosa Karst and feeder lands be protected and preserved as a conservation area for this and future generations.

Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Eramosa Karst Feeder Lands

   1.  The Government of Ontario shall take immediate action to,

  (a)  protect from development the 36 hectares, more or less, of feeder lands, east of the Eramosa Karst in Stoney Creek;

  (b)  direct that the feeder lands be used as a conservation area; and

   (c)  ensure that the feeder lands remain contiguous with the 73 hectares, more or less, of land that comprises the Eramosa Karst.

Commencement

   2.  This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

   3.  The short title of this Act is the Eramosa Karst Feeder Lands Protection Act, 2010.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill requires the Government of Ontario to take immediate action to protect from development the feeder lands of the Eramosa Karst in Stoney Creek, to direct that the feeder lands be used as a conservation area, and to ensure that the feeder lands remain contiguous with the Eramosa Karst.