WAINFLEET WATER and SEWER COMMITTEE



NEWS CLIPPINGS written by ANDREW WATTS
WAINFLEET

line

from THE WELLAND TRIBUNE      JULY 27 , 2007
WHAT READERS SAY
WHERE IS THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF DEMOCRACY?

Wainfleet's township council was elected, less than a year ago, on promises that it would investigate every alternative to the region's big-pipe solution to the alleged contamination concerns along the lakeshore.

Once elected, the township council, through Mayor Barb Henderson's acceptance speech, promised it would strive to maintain Wainfleet's rural identity, monitor and control new building and work towards a better and greener township and community.

Who was misleading whom?

Wainfleet council is now apparently completely behind the region's plan to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on imposing big pipe, municipal water and wastewater services on a Wainfleet community which just plain doesn't want it.

The region's planning department has recently confirmed that these services can support 9,500 new homes in Wainfleet.

The first signs of the new township council's limited and rural development plans is the development at what was Lakewood Camp. Anywhere from 50 to 80 condo-style homes on Lakeshore Road, effectively ending any rural planning policy on minimum size for building lots in the future.

Anything less like maintaining any rural identity is difficult to imagine, yet the township council has confirmed it will allow planning permission for this project.

Whilst neither for nor against the idea of Jericho House so far, that particular development on Rathfon Road is also confusing.

There is a boil water advisory over the area. It is a project supposedly catering to youth groups and I understand, though stand to be corrected, regardless of an advisory (in itself a reason for refusing any building permit), current regulations insist that such facilities cannot be built with septic systems?

I also understand that neither the Township of Wainfleet nor the region have so far approved planning permission, yet the developers have stated they intend to start clearing to build within the next two months.

Of far more concern than our politicians' broken promises, who appear to be totally helpless as far as what happens to their own township, is just who is now actually deciding how Wainfleet is to be developed?

There is surely no sign of any democratic process taking place.

Andrew Watts

Wainfleet

line

from THE WELLAND TRIBUNE      JULY 26 , 2007
WHAT READERS SAY
REGION HAS TOO MUCH CONTROL
MORE LOCAL CONTROL?

Is the editorial in the July 24 edition of The Tribune written as a serious piece?

It amazes me that after the region's performance regarding Wainfleet over the past three years, any serious journalist would continue to write platitudes, with no single word of criticism, about a regional government that has made it very obvious that they, the region, are the only ones who do control.

If you bother to the read the Municipal Act, there already exists legislation that allows local municipalities to take control over local planning decisions that even the provincial government can't overturn.

But this, of course, is only if local municipalities show the strength of character to support their own municipalities rather than bow to pressure from region or province.

Wainfleet is a local, and painful example, that it's all too easy for small local government to not only capitulate, but also to change and do a complete about face on election promises made mere months ago.

For the region to maintain and increase their power they need money, yours the taxpayers' money, and lots of it.

The easy way to do that is to increase their 'tax base', such an innocuous and harmless phrase!!!

Before anyone can claim it is a "good thing" when "it will become much easier, and less costly, to undertake a development project in Niagara," they really should at least consider whether or not there may be ulterior motives.

Do you really believe that fast tracking new development in a Niagara Region where there is a desperate need for additional building land to fit in with future regional planning objectives is being done in the interests of the local populace?

If you believe that the region has the slightest interest in cutting red tape, whatever memorandum of understanding is concerned, I think you are very na‹ve.

They will continue to exert pressure when they feel the need whilst allowing local municipalities to approve more and more residential developments with the attendant loss of rural communities.

They will do nothing to improve the public services, already neglected, overstretched and broken, that any new influx of residents will put even more pressure on.

But, not to worry. The region's tax base will be growing.

Andrew Watts

Wainfleet




Mayor Gord Harry
PHONE: (905) 899-2625

EMAIL: gharry@township.wainfleet.on.ca

Alderman Evan Main
PHONE: (905) 899-2633 or (905) 899-1250
EMAIL: emain@township.wainfleet.on.ca

Alderman Patrick Robson
EMAIL: probson@township.wainfleet.on.ca

Alderwoman Barbara Henderson
PHONE: (905) 386-0977
EMAIL: bhenderson@township.wainfleet.on.ca


Alderman Rudy Warkentin
PHONE: (905) 899-1358
EMAIL: rwarkentin@township.wainfleet.on.ca



MPP -ERIE-LINCOLN
TIM HUDAK , MPP
PHONE: (905) 382-0322
FAX : (905) 382-0315
EMAIL: timhudak@niagara.net



MPP JOHN MALONEY
PHONE: (905) 788-2204
FAX : (905) 788-0071
EMAIL: malonj@parl.gc.ca



PROJECT MANAGER , Regional Niagara
BOB STEELE
EMAIL: bob.steele@regional.niagara.on.ca

 
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems .
 

PHONE THEM

WRITE THEM

EMAIL THEM

TELL THEM