I welcome this forum as an opportunity for community discussion. This is a critical time for the Highlands, with development pressure at an unprecedented level. Before irrevocable decisions are made about these developments it is imperative for Highlanders to come to some concensus on a long-term vision for our community. I hope that this forum will provide an avenue for reaching that concensus in a positive, informative fashion.

I believe that a crucial choice has to be made on the issue of whether to change the Regional Growth Strategy to allow piped services to the Highlands. That, more than any other single factor, will change the character of the Highlands for ever. It is time for some factual discussion of the pros and cons of piped services, and what alternatives exist. For instance, is it worth the risk of unrestricted development to bring in piped water because of fears of groundwater supply and contamination? Or should the lack of piped water be used as a restriction on the size and type of development?

Should the risk of contamination of ground water be justification for piped sewer, or are on-site systems capable of containing contamination?

These questions lead back to the fundamental question of what we want the Highlands to look like 20 or 50 or more years down the road. Do we want it to become an exclusive collection of country estates, as current developments have become? Do we want further subdivision throughout the Highlands on existing large lots? Or do we want to preserve the rural character and greenspace we enjoy at the moment, and concentrate on certain types of development in suitable areas of the Highlands, while allowing more diverse uses on existing properties?

The questions above cover a range of topics which I hope will all get discussed as this forum progresses. Thanks to Royal Roads for hosting this forum, and here's to a future Highlands we all want to live in.

You raise a very important issue around the topic of sustainable communities, that is, should their limits be bound by their geophysical constraints? Should communities, take Toronto, for example, be allowed to export their waste to other communities who need the economic opportunities, or should we all learn to 'live within our means'?

[quote=\"Alan Philip\"] Should the risk of contamination of ground water be justification for piped sewer, or are on-site systems capable of containing contamination?

These questions lead back to the fundamental question of what we want the Highlands to look like 20 or 50 or more years down the road. Do we want it to become an exclusive collection of country estates, as current developments have become? Do we want further subdivision throughout the Highlands on existing large lots? Or do we want to preserve the rural character and greenspace we enjoy at the moment, and concentrate on certain types of development in suitable areas of the Highlands, while allowing more diverse uses on existing properties?

This is only a test.