Saint-Laurent

Technoparc development on hold

Construction on an extension of Alfred-Nobel Blvd. and a levee to control water level in the wetlands in Saint-Laurent’s Technoparc, part of the first phase of the Eco Campus Hubert Reeves, was halted on Wednesday pending the results of an injunction. Photo: TC Media - Archives

Sara King-abadi

22 septembre 2016 à 14h03 - Mis à jour 23 septembre 2016 à 19h07 3 minutes de lecture

Construction on an extension of Alfred-Nobel Blvd. and a levee to control water level in the wetlands in Saint-Laurent’s Technoparc, part of the first phase of the Eco Campus Hubert Reeves, was halted on Wednesday pending the results of an injunction.

Saint-Laurent’s Technoparc is home to precious wetlands and 80 – 90 nesting bird species.

Least Bitterns, a vulnerable bird species, have been spotted in the wetland adjacent to Saint-Laurent’s Technoparc.

Construction on Technoparc’s Eco Campus Hubert Reeves is suspended until Tuesday when a judge will rule on an injunction put forth by the Green Coalition.

At Friday’s hearing Superior Court Judge Guylène Beaugé said she did not want to make a decision « on the fly » and would require more reflection.

Work on the development had been halted since Wednesday by the borough and the Technoparc after the injunction was filed.

“It was more our own initiative [to pause construction Wednesday],” said director of communications for the Technoparc, Carl Baillargeon. “If the result is that we have to stop, permanently or temporarily, we’ll have to stop. »

The injunction cites a 500-metre radius to protect the endangered Least Bittern, required under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), spotted at the adjacent des-Sources wetland. Out of date certificates of authorisation and environmental assessments, that do not include the future Reseau Electrique

Metropolitain (REM), and concern under the Migratory Birds Convention Act are also included in the injunction.

“I feel we’re doing the government’s job for them,” said Lisa Mintz of the Green Coalition. “This is a big population of birds and wetlands are irreplaceable.”

The wetlands on the Technoparc property have been assessed as being home to 80-90 nesting bird species.

The initial decision to pause construction was made with the borough of Saint-Laurent. “We thought that it was was appropriate and in good faith to halt construction pending the court decision Friday,” said Saint-Laurent Mayor, Alan DeSousa.

If the results are not in their favour, the coalition plans to continue to fight the development. “Everywhere I look there are green spaces being destroyed,” said Mintz. “The reason that I do this is for the birds, so they have somewhere to come back to.”

The first phase of the Eco Campus Hubert Reeves construction is the extension of Alfred-Nobel Blvd. and a levee to maintain the water levels in the wetlands that will also serve as a walkway. The first building of five on the Eco-Campus Hubert Reeves development is set for construction in spring 2017.

A decision on the injunction will be made by Tuesday, 5 p.m.