Members of Burlington’s city council have applauded a major new study containing ideas on how to preserve and protect the unique environment in southwest Aldershot.
At a committee meeting this week, councillors formally accepted the study, indicating that it will serve “as the guiding document regarding future management actions for these lands.”
The report was prepared for the Cootes To Escarpment EcoPark System, which has a variety of agency partners, including the City of Burlington.
The report includes many recommendations impacting the publicly-owned lands. It specifically calls on the city to participate in initiatives to: reduce road salt, support cycling, enhance signage, improve trail safety, discourage illegal feeding of wildlife, grow tourism, and much more.
No specific time frame for action was identified.
“This is very exciting for Aldershot. Also, for my backyard,” commented Aldershot Councillor Kelvin Galbraith, who lives in the area.
“As a child, my backyard went right into the Lower Grindstone Creek. This is a very special area. It’s a beautiful park that spans multiple properties. I’m glad it has a management plan behind it. It’s going to be protected long into the future,” said Galbraith, who also serves on the board of the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG).
Councillor Paul Sharman, who sat on the RBG board during the last term of council, described the report as “an important step for the environment.”
