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Brampton expansion will impact Halton Hills-- Mayor CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer Mayor Rick Bonnette commented recently on an Ontario Municipal Board decision to allow changes to Region of Peel's Official Plan that would see 6,000 acres bordering Halton Hills developed into new homes and businesses. The land in question is in the far northwest corner of Brampton, bounded by Winston Churchill Boulevard to the west, Mayfield Road to the north, Creditview Road to the east and the Credit River to the south. Development is not expected to begin until at least 2011. "I feel there are going to be some tremendous impacts on Halton Hills down the road," said the mayor, pointing to potential traffic issues and growth pressures on this community. Planning Director Bruce MacLean said his department has received a number of enquiries from citizens after the OMB decision, wondering if the Town was following the Brampton/Peel moves. The Town of Halton Hills is a regular commenter to the Brampton and Peel Official Plans and secondary plans changes, he said. The Town is currently part of the initial stages of a transportation study to focus on a north-south corridor, he said. The City of Brampton originally proposed this highway corridor go through the southeast section of Halton Hills. (Cynthia Gamble can be reached at cgamble@independentfreepress.com) CVC says it's prepared for global warming Global warming is a reality and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) announced last week that it has not been caught unawares. The local conservation authority was responding to the U.N. Report on Global Warming released Feb. 2, that identifies temperature will rise between 1.8C and 4C by 2100, due to greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide) primarily from fossil fuels used in automobiles and home heating. Credit Valley Conservation manages all natural resources other than minerals in a watershed-- the landmass that drains into a river. The CVC watershed jurisdiction is Halton Hills, Erin, Caledon, Brampton, Oakville, parts of Mississauga, Orangeville, East Garafraxa, Amaranth, Mono and Oakville. According to the CVC, "In this watershed it is likely there will be more severe storms and degradation of water quality and quantity. It is likely that plants, animals and their habitats (already under stress from land use changes) will be further impacted. It is expected that plants and animals in general will move further north with more southern species further invading this area. Great Lakes water levels are expected to fall because of increased temperatures. This is particularly important because the Greater Golden Horseshoe area is dependent on the Great Lakes for drinking water." CVC recommends preservation of its water resources (as others will likely desire Great Lakes water) as well as being in position to provide its own food (agricultural land will need to be protected). "CVC has not been idle for the last 10 years in the area of global warming," says Peel Regional Councillor Pat Mullin, chair of the CVC board of directors. CVC has built up scientific expertise in the last 10 years including implementation plans for how to protect ground and surface water quality and quantity, emergency plans geared to flooding and erosion, dividing the Credit River watershed into 20 subwatersheds and developed implementation plans to protect those subwatersheds. CVC has also developed a preliminary framework for water allocation should that be a necessity. "CVC has more to do to refine some of these studies to direct our response to global warming," says Rae Horst, CVC Chief Administrative Officer, adding that sufficient funding from federal and provincial governments will be necessary.