By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban
The environmental group Technoparc Oiseaux is strongly objecting to development plans in a brief presented last Dec. 16 by Aéroports de Montréal to a Montreal Metropolitan Community public consultation.
Part of the ADM brief details plans to exclude 155 hectares, equivalent to four lots, from the Sources Nature Park, which is near Trudeau Airport, and to “develop an area of over 100 hectares that would include Monarch Fields, a habitat for the endangered monarch butterfly.”
The group says the development of Lot 5 “would also severely impact the Des Sources Forest and Des Sources marsh complex.
“The document glosses over the devastating impacts of ADM’s proposed development on the area’s last remaining wetlands and greenspace, a vital ecosystem home to dozens of at-risk species and remarkable biodiversity.”
Technoparc Oiseaux’s statement added that this past Jan. 31, the ADM presented the environmental group with a plan submitted to Transport Canada, which they say confirmed ADM’s intention to “develop these ecologically valuable lands.
“The CMM, City of Montreal, City of Dorval, and federal government support protection of the site, alongside civic organizations and 25 cities and boroughs.”
“Technoparc Oiseaux is calling on the ADM to adopt a responsible approach, based on biodiversity protection and the public and political will. Silence in the face of such proposed ecological destruction would be inexcusable.”
Katherine Collin, president of Technoparc Oiseaux, stated “protecting these unique habitats is a collective responsibility. ADM can set an example by becoming a leading player in sustainable development and supporting, rather than hindering, protection of the site. If it truly wants to be known as a green company, ADM must withdraw its development plans while there is still time.”
The ADM is countering that it is preserving 25 hectares of land, and that having part of a nature park and its wildlife located so close to the airport and its runways would create a danger, such as birds flying close to or into planes. The airport agency cited a recent plane crash in South Korea caused by bird strikes, which killed 179 people.
Collin, who has said that the ADM’s fear is overstated, says, “we understand that Transport Canada will have until March 21 to accept [the ADM’s master plan]. We encourage you to call your local, provincial, and federal representatives and urge them to act quickly to protect the site.”
Technoparc Oiseaux had rejoiced last October when it was announced that the Plante administration had decided to buy land from the technology firm Hypertec for over $30 million, as it was expected that wetlands and urban forests at the Technoparc in St. Laurent would be preserved and the boundaries of the Sources Nature Park would be expanded.
“Today marks a remarkable step towards the near future where the entirety of the Sources Nature Park, including all remaining federal and private lands, will be fully protected and restored, for the benefit of all,” Technoparc Oiseaux stated at the time. “We would like to emphasize that this collaborative work must continue to protect the rich biodiversity of this site.” n