Contact:
directors@friendsoferamosakarst.org
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov
2 2007
ERAMOSA KARST
LANDS AT RISK
“Friends of
the Eramosa Karst” formed to preserve feeder lands from
encroaching development
The Eramosa Karst lands (located in
the former City of Stoney Creek, bounded by Rymal Road, Upper Mount Albion, Highland Road and Second Road West) were designated by The Ministry
of Natural Resources as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest in
2003. In October 2006 the
Government of Ontario donated 180 acres (approx 73 ha) of these lands
to the Hamilton Conservation Authority to be preserved as a conservation
area. The transferred lands included Karst features
and a small buffer area surrounding them.
Recently a number of hydro geologists
have stated their opinions that development of the lands to the east
of the existing buffer area would pose a potentially serious risk to
the karst ecosystem. The
best option for its continued existence is to halt any future development
of the area.
The lands are presently owned by the
Ontario Realty Corporation. As
such, the Provincial government is in the perfect position to ensure
the protection of these lands by transferring the remainder of the Karst
feeder areas to the Hamilton Conservation Authority.
In an effort to preserve the area
surrounding the Karst lands from future development, a citizens’ group
has been formed. At a recent
public meeting held by the group, a Board of Directors was appointed
and the name “Friends of the Eramosa Karst” was adopted. The goal of
the group is to undertake the task of convincing the Provincial government,
the City of Hamilton and potential developers
of the necessity to protect the lands from further development encroachment.
Friends of the Eramosa Karst is a strong, non-profit, community voice advocating the
transfer of the remaining karst feeder lands to the Hamilton Conservation
Authority.
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