This is a story that a lot of people in Brighton do give a hoot about.
A short-eared owl, listed as a threatened species, was recently seen by consultants on 20 acres of vacant land in Brighton’s industrial park.
The consultants were working for the Municipality of Brighton and starting field work on an environmental impact study on the land, zoned as environmentally protected, as Lower Trent Conservation maintains it’s a wetland site. The municipality’s past consultants have disagreed with Lower Trent’s position.
The current day consultants immediately advised staff and council that there should be no action of any kind on the site and there hasn’t been.
Demand for industrial land is higher than ever in Brighton and council wants to open up the 20 acres to industrial development instead of buying new land for industrial use.
Mayor Brian Ostrander told the Quinte Economic Development Commission Thursday that the municipality has sent photos and other evidence to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks and is hoping it will agree that the site would not be a suitable natural habitat.
“It is highly unlikely that an owl or any bird or any wildlife would nest on those lands. They are disturbed lands. There has been a lot of work done on those lands.”
It’s hoped there will be a response from the Ministry soon and talks will continue with Lower Trent to see if the lands can be freed for development.
Ostrander added that with a natural wildlife area, a natural wetland, and a provincial park nearby, not to mention countless acres of woodlands in the general area, an industrial park would be the least ideal home for an owl.
