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A2 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, June 16, 2006 GOlRRUD'S Crown AUTO 'rejects land www. go rru dsa utog rou p. com matching ID2. proposai Battie over tree e. cuttîng continues * By Stephanie Thiessen I. ~ ~uI - ~ -CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF An offer t0 donate a parcel of Iand t0 the Region of Halton equal in size 10 a forest that swas plowed contrary t0 the Regions tree dutting hylaw bas berri rejected. This is the latest in the ongoing bat- dle between the Region and Burlington resident George Vastis, who was found guilty of cuttng in an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) on his Fourtb LUne property in Milton near the Oakvýille border in 2003. The proposai was outlined in a letter to Crown attorney John OIah dated May 23 trom Davis and Company, the Iaw firmn of defence Iawyer David (rocker. The letter proposes the donation of 8.4 hectares of land for SI to Conservation Halton (CH) or the Region as "an alternative to the prose- cution seeking a monetary penalty and replanting order." The forested property oflered is to the east of land Vastis clcared. Io return, the letter requests ihat Vastîs be permitted to continue bo use the tableland where the trees were cut as farmland. (rocker said he was inforcned fast Fnidav the prosecution \vas rejecting the offer. "We thought it was a reasonable, win-wvin alternative t0 going ahead with the formai sentencing,- he said. Crown attorney John OIah saîd he couldn't comment on the malter while proceedings arc stîli underway Vastis told T he Champion Tuesday that the proposai, \vhicb \vas bis idea, seemed to make more sense ihan any monetary fine or replanting order. "Once vou've destroved something, its nevet tbe same," b e said, adding, "I've tried to do ail 1 cooid on my part." The land is worth between $35.000 and $55,000, Vastîs said. "The damage bappenieci Xhat good is a punishient? \\e need t0 resolve the issues." lie said. Had the olfer been accepted, the lancd coulci bave beeni proiec tedfoe er for the pcublic to enjo, ' Vastis said, lie addecl the Region sbIould be using the mnonev going towarcl legal fees for somiething mnore usefol that would benefit the public. Vastis and bis numbeî'ed com-pans were convîcied 'ast nîonth of ciîîîîng trees ini an ns'ironmentalis Sensitive Area (FiSA) in ApD il ancld ]uis' of 2003, contia' Io the Forest's \ct, lile faces up Io $840.000 in fines. lie pleadecl not guilty to the charges iii 2004. . . %* e e CgUlg(ILOon ag. 16,