Opposed to Runway Expansion Due to Significant Environmental Consequences

As a long term resident of old Breslau I am not in support of the airport expansion due to the significant and permanent environmental impacts, loss of biodiversity, and impacts to human health and well-being.  I also do not believe that there is a proven, evidence-based need and this airport's history has shown a repeated lack of potential passengers to justify the huge expense.

In addition to the loss of two wetlands at either end of 14-32, there are significant environmental impacts to private property that unfortunately are not outlined in the Initial Project Document dated March 9, 2021 due to what looks like a lack of transparency.

I understand that Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory is one of our local privately owned properties that would be significantly impacted by this expansion. The Conservatory which sees over 130, 000 visitors per year (which I believe have a much greater impact on the local economy than a decreasing airline travel industry), has already had over 100 trees removed from their private property in the past year as part of this process.  I understand that the Region has contacted the Conservatory about the requirement to remove approximately (16.8 hectares) 2000 additional trees from their property. Those trees are part of the Kossuth Wetland Complex which has official classification in the Waterloo Regional Official Plan Policies as a Provincially Significant Wetland.

Creating a ‘new’ 1:1 wetland as outlined as a mitigation measure will never offset the loss of existing wetlands whose unique ecosystem has evolved and adapted over hundreds if not thousands of years. The features of Kossuth Wetland Complex are unique enough that it has been recognized and classed as Provincially Significant to our natural heritage. Why were the time and resources spent to identify this unique and sensitive area if the identification label does nothing to help protect them?  Assessing and understanding the impacts of the Kossuth Wetland Complex does not equal their preservation. The lands surrounding Breslau are quickly being swallowed up to development, where would the almost 20 hectares of lost land be replaced? I just don’t see it happening. Mitigation does not equate to conservation or preservation. Waste water catchment ponds do not replace established nature heritage wetlands.  They are designed to catch the storm water runoff caused by new development. That runoff is highly polluted with salts and other toxic substances that inhibit wildlife development, not promote it. Our wildlife and in particular, the identified Species at Risk need and deserve better.  We have a duty to care for them and this expansion would violate that.

The March 9, 2021 Initial Document does identify that other significant environmental impacts would occur to local aquatic environments as well as to 7 species of animals that are classified as Species at Risk.  The document also outlines areas of archeological potential. No mention is made of other potential species at risks including plants,although I doubt it was thoroughly evaluated. 

Is this expansion really needed at this time when airline travel has already shown pre-covid trends of declining and 'zoom' business meetings are a new cost and climate-change saving normal, and significant environmental impacts have been identified.  Sure, at the moment the impact of airport noise on the village is not generally significant, however the goal of this expansion, as outlined by the Region, is more planes and bigger plans.  There is research that indicates that the current method of assessing the impact of noise via Noise Exposure Contours is outdated and not accurate of the true noise impact.

Mention has been made of the need for expansion due to the diverting of airplanes due to poor weather, yet there is a serious lack of evidence provided to support this reason.  My understanding is that number is actually quite low (less than 10 per year from one source).  Not nearly enough to justify the huge and permanent environmental consequences and financial cost.

Spending upwards of $34 million dollars on this expansion doesn’t make a lot of sense when there is not much actual evidence to suggest that this investment would be recovered in any kind of timely manner. The Waterloo Airport has a proven history of not being successful in attracting longterm airlines and operating in a deficit. Significant impacts to our local ecosystem have already been identified, including affecting several classified Species at Risk (that we as humans have a duty to care for).  I am concerned that politics all too often favours exploitation of the environment in favour of promised or perceived economic growth. I understand the ideas of progress and growth but I also understand the much greater value and role of our natural environment and those are things that would be lost forever.

The world needs more of The Lorax because we have way too many Onclers.