WHEREAS on July 25, 2008 the Toronto Region Conservation Authority recommended, when commenting on Durham Region Official Plan Amendment 128, that the TRCA reaffirm its commitment to support the Duffins Creek and Carruthers Creek Task Force recommendation

that a precautionary approach be taken toward the upper Carruther’s Creek watershed, in order to protect the remaining environmental attributes and prevent potentially expensive infrastructure remediation projects in the lower reaches of the creek in the existing downstream Ajax community;

WHEREAS the TRCA advised that the proposed settlement boundary expansion associated with the Carruthers Headwaters is premature until all aspects of the provincial growth plan including an environmental analysis have been addressed and that a watershed plan for Duffins Creek and Carruthers Creek be completed prior to the approval of the regional and local official plan amendment approving development for Northeast Pickering;

WHEREAS a watershed study for the Carruthers Creek has not been undertaken in support of the Amendment;

WHEREAS on March 12, 2010 the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued a draft decision on ROPA 128 which proposes a number of modifications to the Amendment and whereas the draft decision proposes to delete the proposed Northeast Pickering Urban area from the Amendment;

WHEREAS the criteria for the Greenbelt expansions include that the land be contiguous to the Greenbelt, include agricultural uses, protect natural connections, and build upon the Growth Plan of the Greater Golden Horseshoe;

WHEREAS the TRCA when commenting on the draft regulations for expansion of the Greenbelt advised that headwaters areas with little Greenbelt protection be considered as prime locations for Greenbelt expansion;

WHEREAS the Headwaters of the Carruthers Creek are contiguous to the Greenbelt, contain agricultural lands, significant environmental features and are not necessary for development within the 2031 planning horizon of the Durham Regional Official Plan;

WHEREAS Ajax Council on May 25, 2010, when commenting on the MMAH draft decision requested that the whitebelt lands in Northeast Pickering be incorporated into the Greenbelt;

WHEREAS the Sierra Club in their report Floods or Food released June 2, 2010 have cited the importance of an updated watershed study and have recommended the lands be incorporated in the Greenbelt;

THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT the TRCA supports the draft modification of Durham Region OPA 128 from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to delete the proposed Northeast Pickering urban area;

AND THAT the TRCA supports that the lands in Northeast Pickering containing the headwaters of Carruthers Creek be incorporated into the Greenbelt.

AND THAT this motion be forwarded to Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Region of Durham, City of Pickering, Town of Ajax, and interested organizations such as Sierra Club, Environmental Defence, Greenbelt Foundation.