{"id":1378,"date":"2016-05-03T00:34:24","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T04:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backlandscoalition.ca\/?p=1378"},"modified":"2016-05-03T00:56:08","modified_gmt":"2016-05-03T04:56:08","slug":"a-diamond-at-our-doorstep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/backlandscoalition.ca\/?p=1378","title":{"rendered":"“A diamond at our doorstep”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello everyone,
\nMany of you may already be aware that The Shaw Group has teamed up with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in relation to a new proposal to protect a significant portion of the Backlands for \u201cHalifax\u2019s finest urban nature experience\u201d.
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\nOn Tuesday, April 26, a presentation was made to Halifax Regional Council, proposing \u201ca mutually beneficial, three-way partnership for the protection of the Williams-Colpitt Lake site\u201d \u2013 nearly 162 hectares of wilderness lands currently owned by The Shaw Group, which is the parent company of Clayton Developments.<\/p>\n

“We have provided an evaluation and a discounted purchase price for the lands,” Allan Shaw, representing The Shaw Group, told Council. “We have listened to what the public has to say and the importance of these lands to the (city\u2019s) future green network.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Nature Conservancy of Canada offers to bring \u201cfinancial investment, expertise and perspective to the establishment of one of Canada\u2019s pre-eminent urban wilderness parks.\u201d Speaking for the NCC, Nova Scotia Program Director Craig Smith described the lands as \u201ca diamond at our doorstep\u201d.<\/p>\n

He and Mr. Shaw asked Council to provide direction to city staff to \u201cnegotiate an agreement in principle and report back to Regional Council with a recommendation by the last Council meeting in June\u201d.<\/p>\n

For more information about the proposal:<\/p>\n