The city’s executive committee approved a contract with Hydro-Québec to safeguard a 29,000 square metre area of forested land in the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough in an effort to preserve more green space on the Island of Montreal.
The public utility company planned to develop the site, known as le Boisé Steinberg, to erect a new power substation.
However, a $27 million agreement between Montreal and Hydro-Quebec to keep it green was the result of a public outcry.
“One thing that we will do for sure is to protect this area and make sure it remains green,” Marie-Andrée Mauger, Montreal executive committee member told Global News.
On gravel-filled industrial land across the street, Hydro-Québec intends to construct its substation.
The public utility company acknowledges that it is in everyone’s best interests to leave the open space undeveloped, but officials claim that a new substation is required because the demand for electricity has increased and the current substation was built in the 1950s.
The need for power has grown significantly, thus a new substation must be built, according to Julie Boucher, vice-president of sustainable development at Hydro-Québec, who spoke to Global News.
The decision has been well received by the locals.
Local resident Anase Houde, who supports the protection of natural spaces, told Global News that the area had a wetland, lovely trees, and a pleasant smell.
Montreal’s most recent land acquisition is a component of the city’s island-wide conservation initiatives to boost biological diversity and combat climate change.
“We want to safeguard ten percent of Montreal’s land. We’re currently 6% away from our objective, according to Mauger.
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The Boisé Steinberg’s land is not entirely protected, though.
Transports-Québec owns a section, and several people worry that ultimately the government will develop a new road on their land.
Houde responded, “That’s the really, really horrible news.
The fight to preserve more green space for present and future generations will continue, according to conservationists.
Hydro-Québec sells green space to Montreal.
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