Halifax council members are seeking tangible outcomes from the Green Network Plan in response to mounting development pressures on local natural areas. Municipal officials presented an update on the plan to the community planning and economic development committee, outlining progress made in 2023 and 2024.
Adopted in 2018, the plan aims to safeguard and enhance the region’s open spaces, focusing on the ecological, recreational, and economic advantages of an interconnected open space system for the municipality. During the meeting, David Hodd, the project manager for the plan, emphasized the essential role of open spaces as a natural health service for residents, especially highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hodd pointed out the direct benefits of open spaces, such as improved cardiovascular health, mental well-being, and positive pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, studies indicate significant economic advantages associated with public open spaces like parks, including increased property values. Councilor Tony Mancini stressed the importance of highlighting these economic benefits, as some may view investments in this area as discretionary rather than essential.
The significance of wetlands and watercourses from an emergency preparedness standpoint was underscored by Hodd, noting their role in flood absorption and fire mitigation, particularly crucial as Halifax faces more extreme weather due to climate change. Despite only 14 out of 79 plan actions being completed, with 55 in progress and ten showing no advancement in 2023-2024, efforts are underway to enhance oversight and establish completion timelines for the plan.
While the plan guides current Halifax planning policies, officials expressed the need for potential legislative changes at the provincial level to enable the preservation of additional parkland and sensitive areas like wetlands during the development process. Deputy Mayor Patty Cuttell identified these legislative barriers as a significant hurdle to plan implementation.
Leah Perrin, Halifax’s regional planning manager, expressed optimism that the upcoming strategic growth and infrastructure plan in 2027 could persuade the province to introduce new tools aligning with the Green Network Plan. Council members highlighted instances where current policies fell short, emphasizing the importance of harmonizing them with the plan to conserve green spaces amidst increased urban density.
Efforts under the plan, funded by the municipality’s climate change fund, HaliFACT, include initiatives such as a revised urban forest plan, enhanced regulations for the Sackville Rivers floodplain, a natural assets inventory for the Nine Mile River watershed, re-naturalization of Lake Banook shoreline, and the acquisition of 46 hectares of land adjacent to Shaw Wilderness Park.
