SAVE OUR OLD GROWTH FOREST! - Protesters halt work at Guelph industrial park

SAVE OUR OLD GROWTH FOREST!

Occupation Day 1 – video (music by Testament)

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An camp has been initiated on the land proposed for the Hanlon Creek Business Park (HCBP) to prevent Drexler Construction from inflicting further harm at the bidding of the City of Guelph.

Despite broad public outcry, the City has continued to pursue HCBP,
disregarding the intrinsic worth of an Old Growth Forest, the significance of the Paris-Galt Moraine to the integrity of our drinking water, and provincial regulations concerning the preservation of the Jefferson Salamander and Provincially Significant Wetlands.
The City claims to be in consultation with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to determine how it will proceed with the HCBP without harming the Jefferson Salamander. However, it has initiated the installation of an access road and culvert over Tributary A of the Hanlon Creek, the first phase of development, rendering this consultation a farce. The City claims responsibility for the preservation of the very land it profits from developing, but it is not possible to do both. It is our responsibility to intervene in the City’s destruction of this vital land.

We are demanding that the City:
• Listen to public outcry and respect the intrinsic importance of this land by immediately ending this development and terminating their contract with Drexler.
• Compensate the skilled labourers of Drexler Construction for lost wages, including those who choose to stand with us.
• Publicly apologize to the people of Guelph for disregarding their
opposition to this development.

Come out and visit! We are located close to the intersection of Teal and Downey, but closer to the Hanlon, on either side of the creek. Food, water, coffee, and camping supplies will also be appreciated!
Camp Contact: (519) 820-6280
Media Contact: (519) 820- 6239

from the GUELPH MERCURY.COM

GUELPH -- A group of about 60 protesters has occupied a construction area at the site of the proposed Hanlon Creek Business Park.

The group has issued a media release and asserts it's opposed to the development of the proposed site for environmental reasons.

Police are at the scene. The activity is just off Teal Drive, in south Guelph, off Laird Road, near the Hanlon Expressway.

Spokespeople for the group assert they will also have representatives at this evening meeting of Guelph city council at City Hall.
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From Dan Kellar:

This development is similar to the ecologically illogical developments on the Waterloo Moraine in Kitchener (including being some of the last habitat for the endangered jefferson salamander). It is great to see that the efforts to stop the destruction for an old growth forest in Guelph have been justly intensified. Environmental legislation failed once again to consider the complex nature of our natural systems in approving the construction of a business park whose motto is the most disgusting piece of the commodification of our living systems that i have heard in a while: "The Natural Place for Business." Sprawl into ancient forests in Guelph and on top of natural water storage and filtration systems in Kitchener must cease if we are to avoid finding ourselves in an ecological debt which will not support our society.