On March 21, 2025 on the floor of the New Brunswick Legislature, Fundy-The Isles-Saint John Lorneville MLA Ian Lee read a community petition to permanently conserve ~870 acres of land in Lorneville.  This petition was signed by 500 residents of the greater Lorneville area.

The land in question is an extremely biodiverse ecosystem that borders the residential community of Lorneville, provides critical ecological services for the Lorneville residents, and comprises mature forest & wetlands that drain into two salt marshes and the Bay of Fundy. The city of Saint John intends use this land to expand its heavy industrial park. We must protect it at all costs.

#savelorneville​       #protectwetlands

PETITION:

WHEREAS the City of Saint John desires to acquire over 1500 acres of provincial lands for expansion of Spruce Lake Industrial Park west and south of the Industrial Park; AND

WHEREAS the City of Saint John has begun a process to amend the Municipal Development Plan By-Law and the Zoning By-law to re-designate and rezone these lands for Heavy Industrial use on the Future Land Use (FLU) Map at Schedule B; AND

WHEREAS a significant portion of these lands lie immediately adjacent to residential properties in Lorneville and are currently designated as Park and Natural Area and Rural Resource in the Municipal Development Plan on the Future Land Use Map at Schedule B; AND

WHEREAS the lands adjacent to residential properties are presently in a natural and undisturbed state fully vegetated and forested, and contain significant wetlands, three watercourses (and two tributaries) draining into Lorneville Harbour, two salt water Marshes and designated Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSW’s), with downstream beaches, and mud flats at low tide; AND

WHEREAS these lands currently provide significant habitat and feeding areas for wildlife, birds, migratory birds, and fish, endangered species, and recreational opportunities for residents and others and buffer against any current or future sounds, noise, sights, smells, dirt, dust, pollution, or other objectionable elements or dangers produced, emanating from, or associated with industrial activities typically carried on within Industrial parks;

BE IT KNOWN that the undersigned members of the community of Lorneville, and other visitors, friends, tourists, and citizens who may from time to time enjoy the natural areas, hiking and ATV trails, scenery, biking, fishing, hunting, and relaxation opportunities that Lorneville has to offer;

HEREBY request that the Provincial Government of New Brunswick designate for conservation, in perpetuity, that portion of land as marked and illustrated on a copy of the Municipal Development Plan Future Land Use (FLU) Map attached to this document (app. 870 acres more or less).