Fund to buy natural areas

The city is a small step closer to establishing a fund to help in the public acquisition of wetlands, woodlots and other natural areas. An acquisition strategy has been approved but no funds will be allocated until at least 2011 and are not considered a spending priority by senior staff.
A report adopted last month recommends $100,000 a year be spent in 2011, 2012 and 2013 from the city’s capital budget, and then $300,000 per year afterwards. The monies would be used to purchase environmentally significant lands, or to help the conservation authority or other similar organizations to secure properties.