CLARINGTON: The Ontario government is announcing its intention to add to the Greenbelt wetlands connected to the Bowmanville Creek, Soper Creek and Wilmot Creek.
Following public consultation and engagement with Indigenous communities this fall, the government could begin the process of extending the existing Bowmanville Creek, Soper Creek and Wilmot Creek urban river valleys, which connect the Greenbelt to Lake Ontario.
The proposal to add these wetlands came from the Municipality of Clarington and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, as part of a 60-day initial consultation to grow the Greenbelt.
The addition of these wetlands would add 115 acres to the Greenbelt and help to provide permanent protection of these lands so they can continue to be enjoyed by future generations.
“In our first consultation, we heard strong community support for adding the wetland area to the Bowmanville Creek and Soper Creek urban river valleys and adding more wetland area to the Wilmot Creek urban river valley,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
This fall, the government will consult with the public and Indigenous communities on maps showing land that could be added to the Greenbelt, such as proposed urban river valley extensions, other urban river valleys and the Paris Galt Moraine area.
• Established in 2005, the Greenbelt is a broad band of protected land that includes over 800,000 hectares of land in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
• The Growing the Greenbelt consultations could result in the largest expansion of the Greenbelt since its creation in 2005.