Big Box Impacts
The Big Box proposal is directly adjacent to Ojibway Park and across the street from the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve. Keep in mind, over 100 000 people from all over the world come to visit this rare area, researchers study here, top butterfly counts for North America are achieved here and endangered species cross Matchette Road. Here are some of the negative impacts the proposed development will bring;
Construction of the four large big boxes is the beginning of continual negative impacts to the ecological features and functions of Ojibway. The noise, vibration, runoff and changes to the water table are just a few of the negative impacts this endangered ecosystem with 90 species at risk will incur
Parking Lot the 2 300 parking lot will impact on the ecological features and functions of Ojibway. The green space that is there, will be replaced by asphalt, accelerating rain water runoff. This will likely effect the perched water table by not allowing it to replenish. Prairie plants need a high water table, change that and they die. In addition, the parking lot will increase light, water and litter pollution.
Traffic Matchette Road has a current vehicle volume of 8 000 -11 000/day. The traffic from the proposed Big Box will double vehicle volume to 18 628/day or 130 000/week.
Other The development also requires Matchette Road to widen by 30 ft, installation of at least 2 traffic lights and insertion of a 150 ft median to manage additional traffic. All of this beside one of the most endangered ecosystems on earth.
