RESTORE COOTES

"At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be infinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of Nature." H.D.T.

Russ Powers has confirmed that he does not support a Velodrome at the Dundas site suggested by the National Cycling Centre Hamilton (NCCH). In a brief phone interview today, Powers said unless directed otherwise by the new council (after October's municipal elections) he was against the Velodrome being built on the soccer field across from the Olympic Arena. He listed several concerns about that site, which included the proximity to an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), that it would have to built on the site of a former landfill, and the loss of a recreational soccer pitch. Powers, who was originally the city representative on the NCCH board of directors in the "early stages" of that organization, is no longer a director (though he was still listed as such on their web site as of today.) He said the Sierra Group did the site selection criteria for the Pan Am velodrome siting, and did not list potential locations. Sierra was hired by the city of Hamilton. So...

A constituent of ward 13, AKA Dundas, has shared info with me regarding councillor Russ Powers' position on Olympic Park as a site for the velodrome - it appears that Powers' does not think this is a good place for the Velodrome. This is a relief for those of us who are concerned with this area abutting Cootes Paradise; naturalizing and capitalizing on the beauty of the area would be a benefit to Dundas and the ecology of the marsh and surrounding lands. The east end of Dundas has been a dumping ground for years. It's time we reclaim it and bring it back to health . Steps are being made in that direction by the Hamilton Conservation Authority and the Royal Botanical Gardens. We need to make our support for this direction heard.

It seems the siting of the Velodrome in the east of Dundas, like a slasher film villain, keeps coming back to life. When the discussion is of building something new, the players never mention any concerns about environment, or alternative visions for the site. This is true of the Velodrome as much as the much debated Pan Am/Tiger-Cats stadium where there is a risk of displacing high-tech research employment lands. Councillor Russ Powers seems to be siding with the Velodrome /Dundas players. So while they are looking for a plan that would separate the Velodrome from the Stadium (the two have been linked from the start of planning up to now) they also are looking "to find ways to double the $11.4 million budgeted to build a facility substantial enough to host programs that keep the velodrome sustainable in the long term" Of course I am interested in ensuring they don't dip into our tax money to pay for a high end facility for a very select few athletes. "Th...