Question 4 – Expanding and…

Question 4 – Expanding and further protecting Urban River Valleys
Request: Add the natural areas and open space lands contiguous to the 14 Mile Creek in Oakville (currently designated Urban River Valley under the Greenbelt Plan) to the Urban River Valley Greenbelt. The lands in question include Deerfield golf course and the acreage abutting Third Line that is designated as Conservation Reserve under the Land Conservation Act Agreement between the Province and the Town of Oakville (“the lands”).
See Figure 1 for map of subject lands.

Rationale
This request aligns with all of the principles set out in the consultation notice and will be an important element in completion of Oakville’s Natural Heritage System along the 14 Mile Creek.
The lands are part of Oakville’s natural capital base. They provide many benefits including:
- affordable recreation;
- flood and storm water management;
- natural water purification contributing to better water quality;
- trees and open space contributing to better air quality by absorbing emissions from the QEW highway and Mid Halton Water Treatment facility
- climate change resilience and mitigation;
- wetland and habitat protection for threatened species.

Oakville's greenspace is under significant pressure for development. Adding the protection of Greenbelt designation will allow further protection to our natural heritage and water resource systems that sustain ecological and human health.

This request is supported unanimously by the Oakville Town Council (passed at the meeting on April 12, 2021).

Thank you for your consideration.