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MiLTON FUrLý t--Y -At ak' We are487 L4urier Ave., 8878-2881 AMetroland Commumity Newspaper Vol. 143 No. 90 Friday, January 24, 2003 36 Pages $ 1.00 (GST mncluded) Development figures continue to explode Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Marcel Dionne, who was induct.d into th. Hockey Hall of Fame ln 1992, holds up his auto- grapt,.d Detroit Red Wlngs lerse, onbe of maryritems Up for grabe et the Sports Celebrlty Dînner and Aucton Tuesday nlght et Granite Ridge Golf Club. -'Chamber of- Commerce scores with first sports celebrity dinner By STEVE LBLANO The Champion Milton helped support the future by hon- ouring the past at Graite Ridge Golf Club Tuesday night. Former NHL greats Bobby Hull and Marcel Dionne high- lighted a star-studded cast of spe- cial guests at thse Milton Chamnber of Commerces Sports Celebrity Dinner and Auction. The inaugural event - which included appearances by Mr. Toronto Argonaut Mike "Pinhail" Clemons, Olympie women's hockey gold medalist Geraldine Heaney, hamess rac- ing star Ron Waples and ex-NHI Dale Hawerchuk (a Jase replace- ment for Borje Salming) - will help Use Chamber expand its seholarship program Usat bene- fits Use Usrce local high sehools as well as Milton's Junior Achievement. Chamber executive director Sandy Martin said she didnt e-s EVENT on pagle 20 By JASON MISNER The Champion The big pipe drawing water from Lake Ontario into Milton is proving to be a big reason why the town's industnial and residential base continues to explode. 2002's year-end econoruse report shows Milton accumulated more Uian 568,000 square fret of new business space, totailing more Usan $53 million worth of construc- tion. Also, Uere were 1,776 building permits issued last year. Econonijc development officer Andrew Siltala said since the pipeline came on lime in Use fai of 2000), it's opened up a whole new world for Mslton. "It's expanded our ability to service areas," Mr. Siltala said. It's driven a lot of Use growth" From an industrlal perspective, in each of Use last tdme years Milton has seen more Usan a haif-milion square fret of industnial, commercial and inttutional space created.. This type of heavy industrial expansion generates about $300,000 in yearly proper- Region wins for Big Pipe Halton Region bas been awarded for the 'Big Pipe' project, which brought Lake Ontario water to Milton. The Amenican Public Works Association named the initiative its Project of the Year over $10 million in Use environmental est- egory. 'fli 'Big Pipe', 15.5 kmn long, cost $30 million and opened in the fail of 2000. The project was also recognized for being completed ahead of sehedule. "We are very proud of the professional- ismn and commitment of our staff, and Use teamwork of our partners Usat made thit project a succesa," rsaid Regional Chairmnan Joyce Savoline. To avoid any environmental harro, the pipe was tunnelied undemneath Sixteen Mile Creek. About 100,000 man hours were devoted to complete Use projet over a lO-month period. ty taxes. From a housing perspective, permits have soared since 2000, showmng the pipe's imnPact. I 2001, tic Town secured about 1,600 building penniùts; in 1999 it issued about 200. Mr. Siltala said Milton bais already desig- nated what lands will be used for housing based on its Officiai Plan, a municipalisy's main blueprint for growth. It's a similar story for industrial develop- ment. New development will be contained to a large business park, southeast of Hwy. 40 1, near James Snow Parkway. The Town stili has 700 acres left in its first phase of industrial developnient. once that builds out, another 1,500 acres will be made available. It's al Part Of thse Town's goal to create a sustainable community, where people work, live and play. It alto helps in getting rid of thc bedroomn conununity image. It seems to be working. The town's pop- ulation has increased by 30 per cent in Use last three years. As of December 2()02, it was 42, 100; it was 3 1,000 in 1999. The Town's objective is to sel 1,500 building permits per year and 600,000 square feet of business space per year over Uic next decade. Comment .......6 NS Report.......8 Lîfestyle .... .12-13 Datolns ......23 Sports ...... .24-27 Classified ... .29-31 'é"aT BmWl m * e tWB Sh *f.i 1, UsN ft .la m