The process to preserve the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area feeder lands and transfer their ownership to the Hamilton Conservation Authority has begun.

Infrastructure Ontario has announced an amendment to the Environmental Assessment for the feeder lands will be released for public comment Thursday.

“The letter from Infrastructure Ontario is the first real indication that the government of Ontario is sincere in their statements to preserve and protect these lands by transferring them to the Hamilton Conservation Authority for the nominal fee,” Councillor Brad Clark recently wrote on his blog.

The province transferred ownership of the Eramosa Karst — a network of caves, sink holes, dry valleys and sinking streams near Upper Mount Albion and Rymal roads — to the HCA for a nominal fee in 2006.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing took the first step toward preserving its feeder lands earlier this year by accepting a new city official plan that designates the 32 hectares as open space.

The Ministry of Infrastructure is working with the HCA to determine how best to manage the lands over the long term, Mountain Liberal MPP Sophia Aggelonitis said in an email.

“I know those negotiations are ongoing and I’m very hopeful and looking forward to the outcome.”

via TheSpec – Process to preserve Karst feeder lands has started.