Town wins environmental award

On October 22nd, at the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce 2014 Business Achievement Awards, the Town received the Environmental Excellence Award.  This award recognizes environmental conservation, green procurement, and protection of natural heritage and community work that nurtures an ethic of social responsibility.

Speaking about the Environmental Achievement Award Mayor Rick Bonnette said:  “Over the past years the Town’s policies, plans, projects and participation in environmental programs has and will continue to improve the environmental health of our community. We follow the PAREE Principle. This means actions that are practical, affordable, reasonable, educational and enforceable. I am very proud of the Town being recognized with this Award.”

The Award celebrates the Town’s contributions to environmental leadership within its corporate operations as well as within the broader community. For example, Town Council has recently approved flexible Green Development Standards to maximize the positive attributes of new development. The Town also incorporates conservation and other environmental measures into its own facilities and infrastructure projects. A few of the projects that were highlighted at the Award ceremony included the Edith Street eco-friendly parking lot in downtown Georgetown which uses permeable paving stones, and the electric vehicle charging stations at Mold-Masters SportsPlex. In addition, the Town is a partner in the implementation of the Community Sustainability Strategy that includes an overall vision for the community while considering the four ‘pillars’ of sustainability: prosperous economy, cultural vibrancy, healthy environment and social wellbeing.
More information about the Town’s leadership in sustainability is available at: www.haltonhills.ca

Mayor contacts Greater Toronto Airports Authority to review low flying planes

Mayor Rick Bonnette has called on the federal government and authorities at Pearson Airport to look into residents’ concerns regarding overhead plane noise.

“Many residents have contacted me personally to see what I can do about the low flying aircraft noise over Georgetown,” said Mayor Bonnette.  “I have followed up on these concerns on their behalf. Since airports are federally regulated, I have written to the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transportation as well as the Honourable Michael Chong, MP for Wellington-Halton Hills, of our residents’ concerns.  In addition, I have written to Aleem Kanji, Manager of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) asking them to look further into this on behalf of Georgetown residents.”

Mr. Chong’s office is also following up with the GTAA and has learned that the flights in question are departing from runway 05 at Pearson Airport.  The Mayor has asked that a review of the flight patterns and volume of planes flying in the area be reviewed to ensure that all time flight restrictions are being observed.

If you are noticing low flying aircraft, please contact the GTAA Noise Complaint Department at 416-247-7682 or federal MP, Michael Chong.


About the Town of Halton Hills
The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 60,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto.  The Town is the 2013 recipient of the National Municipal Environmental Award from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators and is ranked as one of the top small communities in Canada by a national magazine.

For further information contact:
Rick Bonnette, Mayor
Council
905-873-2601, ext. 2341
Email: mayor@haltonhills.ca