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05_V1_OAK_SEPT22.qxd The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 22, 2006 - 5www.oakvillebeaver.com Fairvi ew St . QEW / 403 Q EW M ap le A ve. B rant St. D rury Ln. G uelp h Line Lakes hore Rd. Carol ine St . Monday to Wednesday: 10am to 6pm Thursday & Friday: 10am to 8pm Saturday: 10am to 6pm Sunday: 12pm to 5pm Visit www.invudraperyco.com to become a member. • d r a p e r y + h a r d w a r e • c u s t o m s e w i n g + f u r n i t u r e • i n - h o m e c o n s u l t a t i o n • W E ' V E R A I S E D T H E C U R T A I N Our "Luxury To Go™" ready-made drapery collection is exquisitely designed and ready to hang. With over 90 in stock drapery panels to choose from, it's easy to achieve the custom look without the wait. A b b b a r g o o n ' s c o m p a n y F R O M S E P T E M B E R 9 T O O C T O B E R 1 25%OFF O U R L U X U RY T O G O ™ D R A P E RY * 20%OFF A L L C U S T O M D R A P E RY * (*see store for exceptions) 2004 Caroline Street, Burlington Ontario L7R 1K9 • 905.632.4994 ...Redefi ne Your Living Space We design and build Bathrooms . Kitchens . Basements More than 20 years of experience 198 Speers Road, Oakville 905-845-9675 FAMILY OWNED OPERATE D were to build a golf course, which Vastis repeatedly denied, saying it was for agricultural purposes. The property is in Milton near the Oakville border and lies south of Britannia Road and north of Hwy. 407, between Regional Road 25 and Trafalgar Road. Vastis pleaded not guilty to the charges in 2004. In June, 22 of those counts -- for cutting in a woodlot -- were stayed to prevent a duplication of charges. Tuesday, Vastis was ordered to pay a fine of $3,000 per count, resulting in the total of $33,000. The $122,260 re-planting order imposed was a medium intensity plan proposed by the prosecution. The $62,400 plan requested by defence lawyer David Crocker was rejected, with Woloschuk saying it didn't provide for full re-forestation of the cleared area. The cost of the chosen re-forestation plan is high enough to serve as a deterrence to Vastis, Woloschuk said. The chosen plan involves re-planting 2,500 seedlings per hectare and putting mulch pads around the trees. To make sure this plan is carried out, Vastis will be on probation for two years. Noting the lengthy nature of the case, Woloschuk said he "appreciates the professional manner of both councils present in this trial." Outside the courtroom, Crocker said he was dis- appointed in the outcome, particularly that Vastis had been ordered to pay a fine and carry out a re- planting order, not one or the other as he'd request- ed. "We all lose sight of the fact this is this man's own property," Crocker said outside the courtroom. He added he thought the intensity of the re-plant- ing order was unnecessary. "I'm disappointed in the re-planting order -- that he (Woloschuk) felt it necessary to impose as intense a re-planting order as he did." He said he thought Vastis showed contrition and was disappointed Woloschuk felt it necessary to include an element of specific deterrence in the penalty. "I thought he (Vastis) was pretty contrite, and understood he made a mistake and regretted it," Crocker said. His client hasn't decided whether to appeal the decision, Crocker said. Outside the courthouse, a handful of members of the Oakvillegreen environmental group rejoiced in the decision and praised the way the case was han- dled. "Oakvillegreen is very pleased the Region has been so persistent with the case," said Liz Benneian, president of the group. "We hope the message (sinks in) to other property owners that they can't flout the law." In a press release issued Wednesday, Halton Regional Council expressed its satisfaction with the sentence handed down, saying it "clearly confirms that Halton's tree by-law is a defensible and effective tool for preserving and protecting Halton's natural environment." Halton Regional Chair Joyce Savoline said the outcome of the case is "a clear victory for the envi- ronment." "It appears that this is the largest tree re-planting order ever awarded by the courts in the province and if not the largest fine, then one of the largest," Savoline said. -- Stephanie Thiessen can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com. Ruling called victory for the environment ■ Continued from page 1