Lions Centre Park
Despite residents’ protests at least 355 significant sized trees, shrubs and vegetative wildlife habitat located in the woodlot and other park locations were removed last fall to prepare for remediation of industrial and low-level radioactive waste in this municipal park. A report by the PHAI included only trees over 5cm in diameter at breast-height in contrast to their earlier estimate of 2740 trees to be removed. The municipality justified this destruction on the basis of a risk to human health and potential legal liability. However, the waste has been buried in and about the woodlot undisturbed for three-quarters of a century without any known action being taken by the Provincial environmental authorities. In addition, the PHAI identified alternative remedial approaches to the woodlot that would not have required its destruction. These alternatives were rejected by the Municipality.
Penryn Woods
Penryn Woods is at risk of being clear cut by AON Mason homes. Our community has been making its desire to preserve this woodland loud and clear due to it's significance as an important part of our natural heritage and local eco-system. Learn more about how we are mobilizing to protect Penryn Woodland, including representing the community in upcoming legal proceedings.
Sustainable Planning
In 2020, renowned Urban Planner Ken Greenberg issued a warning to our community. Without a sustainable planning strategy, we run the risk of losing the very nature of our town. Learn more about how our community is working to promote a vision for sustainable planning that celebrates and preserves the cultural and environmental heritage of Port Hope.
PHAI and our Tree Canopy
The Port Hope Area Initiative cleanup of low-level radioactive and selected industrial waste is proving to be much more destructive to our urban tree canopy than anticipated. We believe it is time for Port Hope to revisit cleanup plans to protect the people and natural heritage of the community. We advocate risk managed solutions and support the PHAI proposal to federal regulatory authorities to update the criteria for arsenic levels - approximately 50,000 trees are at stake! Remember, the federal authorities, including the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, have always stated that there is no evidence that the health of Port Hope residents has been adversely affected by the presence of historic low level radioactive waste for well over half a century.
See: Info on PHAI website
