August 2011
Court Date Set - Sept. 23
Submitted by Doug Anderson on August 19, 2011 - 5:01pmThe initial court hearing in our challenge of the zoning for the incinerator site has been set for Friday, Sept. 23, 9:30 am at Durham Region Courthouse in Oshawa. Further information will be posted here as the date approaches.
For more information on the case and our legal team, please refer to our earlier story: Legal action commenced against incinerator.
Now that the date is set, our fundraising efforts are more important than ever. Receipts to date are on track but we still have a long way to go.
Our lawyers have told us to expect a minimum of $15,000, but we're aiming for $25,000 in order to have a substantial cushion.
Demonstrations serve an important purpose but in themselves cannot stop this project. We need a well-funded legal challenge to carry the momentum into the courtroom.
Great turnout! Great coverage!
Submitted by Doug Anderson on August 18, 2011 - 9:26pmThanks to all those who came out to demonstrate at the ground-breaking for the incinerator. I think we made our point that the fight is not only not over but stronger than ever. Carola Vyhnak (Toronto Star) told me there were more people on the outside than inside.
If you weren't able to come, then check out the media stories we generated - the best coverage we have ever received. CTV invested huge resources to the story (live satellite transmission plus their helicopter)
With the exception of Metroland (what else would you expect?) all of the stories put the greater emphasis on the opposition and the protest.
CTV
Residents angry over garbage plan
CityTV
Protesters show up at incinerator groundbreaking event in Courtice
Toronto Star
Angry protesters disrupt Durham incinerator groundbreaking
Metroland (This Week, etc.)
Durham breaks ground on controversial incinerator
Oshawa Express
Anger over 'invite-only' decision
CBC (French)
Incinérateur à Clarington : des manifestants perturbent le début des travaux
Join us Tomorrow (Wed) at the Incinerator site
Submitted by admin on August 16, 2011 - 4:46pmIt's important to get lots of people out. I have talked to several media including CBC National News. This is our best opportunity yet for good coverage.
- When: Wednesday, Aug 17 10:00am to 2:00 (critical time will be about 10:45 - 12:30 - that will catch all the dignitaries as they arrive and most of them as they leave.
- Where: Osborne Rd at the entrance of the water treatment plant (access via Solina Rd - Osborne is closed for construction) see parking info below.
- Bring yourself, bring all your friends
- Bring signs if you have one or can make one
- Bring Sunscreen & water bottles - It is supposed t be sunny and warm
- Have fun!
I visited the site Monday afternoon and here's what's happening.
The Region has levelled and built a site for their tents (one was already erected) just N of the railway tracks across from the water treatment plant. They've also leveled off a parking lot, put in gravel and built an access road off the lane from the water plant. (So how much did all this cost?)
As some have already pointed out, Osborne Rd is closed due to construction (sewers, etc.) so the access to the groundbreaking will be S from the Service Rd on Solina Rd. (1st east of Osborne) and then west on Osborne. They were fixing the potholes while I was there.
Parking close to the site will be a problem for us. There is limited parking along the side of the road but with the rain and fresh gravel, some of the shoulders are soft. For most of us the best place to park will be the parking lots for the playing fields on Solina. From there is is about a half mile walk on gravel (wear appropriate shoes).
More Media Coverage
Submitted by Doug Anderson on August 16, 2011 - 12:35pmToronto Metro News
August 11th: Critics plan to crash trash party
Metroland (This Week, etc.)
August 10th: Lawsuit against Durham incinerator delayed
Regions schedule Ground Breaking gala - join our demonstration
Submitted by Doug Anderson on August 5, 2011 - 8:20pmIn spite of our pending legal action to stop the incinerator, the Regions are planning a gala ground breaking ceremony on August 17th at the site on Osborne Rd. It is by invitation only (see invitation). (We weren't invited.) The invite says "indoors" (tent?) and "business attire". The time is 11am to 2pm with the ceremony scheduled for 11:30.
Corinna Traill has written a blog about it here.
Presumably the press will be invited and we need to ensure that they are well aware that the legal action is underway and that digging a few holes in the site does not build an incinerator. We need to ensure that the stories that get written are about our protest and the legal limbo rather than about the ground breaking.
We need to be at the site by 10:30am in order to catch people as they arrive.
This is an opportunity to show our strength and ensure that everybody attending is well aware of our determination to stop it.
We need a couple of volunteers who are willing to coordinate this. Email us at DurhamCLEAR@gmail.com
Court Date Postponed
Submitted by Doug Anderson on August 5, 2011 - 8:15pmThe date of the preliminary hearing on DurhamCLEAR's application to disallow the construction of the incinerator on the grounds that it violates the site zoning, has been postponed to September. No specific date has been set at this time. It will be posted here on the website as soon as we know.
The date was postponed because the lawyers for both the Region and Clarington indicated they were unavailable on August 12th.
The entire court process is expected to take a couple of months minimum.