Telling the sustainable story will take more than handing out copies of a solid report.

News 100 blueBy Staff

June 17, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

It’s all about the environment – global warming, flooding and much different weather patterns than we are used to – there is a lot of talk; the fifth State of the Environment Report (SOER) for Burlington, prepared by the Sustainable Development Committee was presented to a Council Standing Committee earlier this week.   SOERs have been presented to council in 1998, 2004, 2007 and 2011.

Halton escarpment - long view up slope

Does sustainability mean ensuring the Escarpment is never touched?

The purpose of the document is to provide information on the state and health of Burlington’s environment and to make recommendations for improving it.

The SOER identifies eleven themes, and reported on:

Why it was measured
What was measured – indicators
What was found – indicator values and trends
What is happening to address the issue

The 2015 document points to progress is being made in certain areas of the city related to environmental sustainability:

The Cootes to Escarpment Land Strategy and Park System has partnered various levels of government, agencies, utilities, and non-government organizations to preserve and expand natural areas and engage the community on the value of these lands. The system is one of the most biologically rich areas in Canada with more than 1,580 documented species and habitat for more than 50 species at risk.

Under Places to Grow and with a firm urban and rural boundary, the city will continue to transform from a suburban community to a more urban built environment that should support a sustainable transportation network.

Support for urban agriculture and local food opportunities, such as community gardens, continues to grow.

Halton Region continues to experience success in reducing the waste diversion rate by expanding programs for local residents.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the community and city operations are decreasing.

Water efficiency efforts appear to be working as water consumption on a per capita basis appears to be decreasing (for low rise residential development).  However, it is acknowledged that there are challenges facing the city and partner agencies going forward:

The uncertainty of the impacts of climate change, not just with local infrastructure, but with health, food security, the natural environment, among others. A regional adapation strategy should be considered.

The automobile is still the preferred mobility option in Burlington and changing the modal split in favour of other sustainable modes like transit, walking and cycling will require ongoing support in these areas.

The urban forest is under threat by invasive species and urban development, making the Urban Forest Master Plan an important resource.

The Sustainable Development Committee recently prioritized their top ten recommendations in the SOER:

ADI rendering from SW

The use to which we put the land we have – who gets to make those decisions?

LAND USE PLANNING:
1. That the city focuses on future land planning opportunities for mobility hubs, with design principles supporting energy efficient and smart development with a sustainable transportation network.

Regional Chair Gary Carr tasting honey while on an agricultural tour.

Regional Chair Gary Carr tasting honey while on an agricultural tour.

RURAL LANDS & AGRICULTURE
2. That the city expand the position and responsibilities of the Community Garden Coordinator from seasonal part time to support the local food movement in Burlington, by encouraging local food production and distribution, and supporting urban and rural agricultural programs.

TRANSPORTATION:
3. That the city undertake Transportation Modal Split surveys on a more consistent basis than the Transportation Tomorrow Survey. It is recommended that this survey include questions to detail why residents of Burlington choose their preferred mode of transportation and what steps need to be taken to encourage residents to rely on more sustainable transportation options.

ENERGY:
4. That the city continue the implementation of the Community Energy Plan with a focus on fuel and cost savings, by switching from gasoline vehicles to electric/hybrid vehicles, investigating opportunities for local sustainable generation (e.g. district and renewable energy), improving efficiency, increasing community engagement and improving the built form.

Flood weather network bridge

Water – it can work for us and it can work against us. Either way it is a resource to be managed so that it can sustain the community.

WATER:
5. That the city implement repairs and actions to mitigate future flooding impacts based on the results of the current study being carried out by the City of Burlington, Region of Halton and Conservation Halton in a cost effective manner. The study should include an update of the design standards for the stormwater system considering climate change impacts. That the city follow the principles (e.g. electrical boxes above flood level) required by Alberta when remediation is being carried out on residences, etc. (particularly where residences have been flooded repeatedly).

6. That the city request a geotechnical report through the development review process to ensure the proper design is applied when building construction takes place near or below the water table, particularly in low lying areas where the water table level is near the surface. Ensure the Ontario Building Code requirements are implemented, such as waterproofing of the foundation walls and measures to mitigate a reduction in the bearing capacity of the soil.

7. That the city, in partnership with Conservation Halton as appropriate, undertake a series of pilot projects on city properties using Low Impact Development stormwater management techniques to treat stormwater runoff at its source rather than conveying it through the traditional stormwater infrastructure.

CLIMATE CHANGE:
8. That the city ensure community resiliency by working with regional partners including Halton Region, Conservation Halton and the local municipalities to develop a climate change adaptation strategy.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS & DEVELOPMENT:
9. That the city implement green building standards to require builders to include sustainable building measures in their projects.

10. That the city continue to undertake a training program for city staff who deal with planning applications and building permits to obtain LEED accreditation and to make use of the LEED Neighbourhood checklist developed by the SDC.

The Sustainability Advisory Committee is made up of volunteers who have taken on a mammoth task.  At times the city has asked them for comments they weren’t able to provide; with these periodic reports the city gets solid data but then struggles to leverage the data and inform the public.

Sheldon Creek clean up - tires

Tires pulled out of creeks by clean up crews – the tires got dumped there by people who should know better.

Burlingtonians are particularly willing to pitch in and do what needs to be done to make the difference.  Thousands turn out for the Green Up – Clean up event; hundreds trooped to the Beachway to plant trees.  The task now is to get the message out – which is easier said than done.  The Sustainable Development Committee plans to make their report available within the community.  Copies will be distributed to the Burlington Public Libraries and local senior elementary and secondary schools as a resource document. An electronic version will be provided on the city’s website. The Committee will promote the on-line link to the SOER to minimize the number of printed copies.

It is going to take more than dropping copies off at the library and at schools to get the depth and breadth of just what sustainability is all about.  On that score the committee gets a low C grade – great stuff but it has to go much further than a presentation to council and being put in the libraries.

It comes back to that leadership issue – doesn’t it?

 

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1 comment to Telling the sustainable story will take more than handing out copies of a solid report.

  • Ken Colombo

    “It comes back to that leadership issue – doesn’t it?

    TRUER WORDS WERE NEVER SPOKEN!

    Burlington City Council and Halton Regional Council are sleep walking and stumbling toward total disaster. If that kind of silly posturing continues, we are going to see a Wholesale Change to incumbencies in 2018.