We are partners with a number of organizations under the umbrella of the “Green Gatherings” and have joined a number of other Sudbury organizations to support a joint 2014 budget submission, which was coordinated by the Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury.

Many voices make an impact!

The letter has been submitted to the City of Greater Sudbury, and reads as follows:

June 18, 2013

Input to the 2014 City of Greater Sudbury Municipal Budget

We, Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury, Connect the Creek, Eat Local Sudbury, The Foodshed Project, Friends of the Roxborough Greenbelt, Friends of Sudbury Transit, Greater Sudbury Watershed Alliance, Junction Creek Stewardship Committee, Laurentian University Environmental Science Program, Minnow Lake Restoration Group, Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee, reThink Green, Simon Lake Community Stewardship Group, Sudbury Cyclists Union, and Vermilion River Stewardship make the following recommendations for the 2014 City of Greater Sudbury municipal budget:

To find resources within existing budgets, and to allocate new funding where required to:

1. Provide staff time to the role of Community Garden Coordinator.
There is growing interest in community gardens in Greater Sudbury. To support start up of new gardens, provide support to and increase sustainability of existing gardens, and to connect residents to community gardens, there is a need for a community garden coordinator.

2. Acquire high priority green space, as outlined in the Green Space Advisory
Panel Final Report.
High priority green spaces have a high recreation and/or conservation value, and are
also at high risk to be lost from development or other pressures. Timely action is
required to protect these important areas in perpetuity. The Final Report of the Green
Space Advisory Panel recommends an annual amount of $100,000 – $200,000, which will
also assist in leveraging outside funding.
In addition, we support the completion of the Junction Creek Waterway Park trail.

3. Complete priority watershed and sub-watershed studies
Council recently passed a motion to immediately begin these studies which are necessary to protect water quality in our lakes and waterways, protect residents from flooding, and to make an informed decision on any development application within a watershed.

4. Meet the objectives, timelines, and budget requirements of the Sustainable
Mobility Plan and the Bicycle Technical Master Plan to make walking, cycling and transit safe, accessible, and convenient in the City of Greater Sudbury.
We support the Sudbury Cyclists Union recommendation that a minimum of 1% of the capital roads budget be dedicated to priority on-road cycling infrastructure, above and beyond regular budget spending on cycling and pedestrian infrastructure during roadworks.

These recommendations support the top overall priorities identified by the local environmental community.

Thank-you for your consideration.

Contact:
Naomi Grant
705-673-1874
grant_naomi@hotmail.com