The Greenbelt should include…

The Greenbelt should include all components of urban river valleys, in particular headwaters, in order to continue to protect our green spaces which are vital to our existence. (Reference attached report, Managing Urban Heat Islands 2018 in Durham Region, pg 7. In Whitby...”the average Number of days per year that feel like they are over 40°C due to humidity will increase from 3 (average between 2000 and 2009) to 19 (in 2040)”, and it will only worsen if there isn’t sufficient protected green space. Growing the Greenbelt is an excellent idea instead of growing more heat islands in the GTAH. (Map page 6, same report.)

In particular, the Carruthers Creek headwaters in northeast Pickering just south of the Oak Ridges Morraine would be a great addition to the Greenbelt. Threatened by development because of ease of access to MZOs, this area, if developed would cause irreversible flood risk to the neighbouring Town of Ajax without the important drainage system that allows storm water to run off naturally.

Lastly, I would ask that consideration be given to homes that aren’t in the Greenbelt now but will end up in the Greenbelt after the expansion. Greenbelt legislation is rigid, understandably for good reason, but once ‘in’ Greenbelt homeowners have little recourse to mitigate issues. As an example, homes sustained by wells instead of municipal water; when a well stops providing sufficient quantity and/or quality water, it’s almost impossible for current homeowners in the Greenbelt to obtain municipal water, even if they want to pay for all of the cost, even if their issues are shared by others in their rural community, even if their issues pre-date the Greenbelt Act. The spirit of the Greenbelt is to protect nature, not to punish simple homeowners through its expansion. It’s intended to stop the bulldozing of watersheds for dollars by short-sighted developers and local councils, not deprive residents of life’s basic necessities.

PS. Consideration should be given to wildlife. How many dead animals do I need to drive by on the side of the road when simple wildlife tunnels can be built under roads and highways so that wildlife can move naturally from one area to another. The Greenbelt is dissected by roads and highways and animals either risk life to cross or stay in their small patch. It’s inevitable the wildlife populations are going to grow and some forethought would save many of their lives.

Thanks for your time.