Aurora needs to secure access on nature preserve as 2C development gets underway, says environmentalist

July 9, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Brock Weir

Aurora needs to step up its game and restrict access to an area nature preserve until it is fully ready to be accessed by the public, according to Susan Walmer, Executive Director of the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust.

The area in question is the McLeod Nature Reserve near the intersection of Leslie Street and St. John’s Sideroad. As development gets ready to take root in the area as part of the expansive 2C Development, which is slated to bring over 4,000 new households into Aurora, all parties need to be extra vigilant in making sure this area remains pristine while the area surrounding it is transformed.

“[Existing] mesh fence protects the edges of the woodlot and so far it is doing a good job,” said Ms. Walmer at a recent meeting of Aurora Council. “We didn’t see a lot of garbage coming into the area yet, but they haven’t really started the construction phase, so that is good news for the forest. McLeod has so many woods, forests and trees in it that we want to make sure we are preserving it.”

Some edges of the woodlot, which were once not as easily accessible, have been prepared for the incoming development. As access becomes less of a challenge, Ms. Walmer says recent inspections have indicated there is debris not just on the Leslie Street roadside, but also on the edges of the woods.

“This is a concern and I am not sure how to deal with it,” said Ms. Walmer of recent discussions with members of the Parks and Recreation Department. “I think [Director Al Downey] and I have some ideas where to go from here. We put a no trespassing sign up with the Town’s help, but it is disappearing with the new vegetation that is coming up and we have some concerns with people being on the property right now because there are no trails that are being maintained.

“The Town, as part of our management agreement, is responsible for helping maintain the property. That hasn’t happened because we don’t have public access but, unfortunately, as more people move into the area, there is potential for a lot more public access and it is a safety issue with no trails. I know every time I drive by there is usually a car parked there and somebody going in and accessing it. When I have talked to a few people, I didn’t get a favourable response so I am not going to do that anymore.”

In the meantime, the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust has been looking into the management agreement between the Trust and the Town of Aurora to see how they can collaborate to keep it a haven for nature, including an elusive herd of deer, but that will be more of a challenge as people move in.
New residents, she said, want to live beside nature and conservation, but that is a principle which needs to be protected.

“The Leslie Street side is completely open…and we talked to Mr. Downey about how we might deal with that and I think the only way we can is to put a fence up along that side and more no trespassing signs so the public knows it is not safe, there are no trails in there right now and there might be branches [down] from the ice storm,” said Ms. Walmer. “There isn’t maintenance happening, so there is a risk and a liability issue we need to deal with.

“I have also talked to [Director of Planning] Marco Ramunno about [creating] a homeowners’ guide and having input into that so people understand how to be a good forest neighbour. It is not about being in the forest, it is about protecting the forest. This is a special reserve and it is an eco-gift through the Federal Government. It has a lot higher protection on it and we are responsible as the land trust in our management plan with the Town to make sure we uphold the additional responsibility of protecting it as a nature reserve.”

Following Ms. Walmer’s delegation to Council at the end of the month, Council voted to task Town Staff with reviewing public safety and access to the McLeod Wood Nature Reserve, with an eye on fencing, signage, and maintenance on the land.