A Stoney Creek group is rejecting the Ontario Realty Corporation's option to sell part of the karst area to developers while protecting some sensitive lands.

"We are not against development," says Tom Zietsma, co-chair of the Friends of the Eramosa Karst. "But to preserve 250 acres in addition to the karst, is that too much to ask?"

Members of the group, which staged a walk around parts of the karst last week with a reporter and local politicians, were reacting to a recent public meeting held by the ORC for its environmental assessment study on 87 hectares of land near the existing Eramosa Karst Conservation area to the immediate east.

Rita Giuletti, spokesperson for FOTEK, said she believed ORC officials ignored what residents want them to do with the property.

"They would not hear anything from the public," she said. "It's all about economics."

During the tour, the group discovered further destruction of a sinkhole that had been buried near the corner of Richdale and Fairhaven drives. Rocks had been piled up near the ground, protected by an orange fence.

The 13,000-year-old karst is a collection of caves, dry valleys and sinking streams caused by dissolving limestone.

One of the options FOTEK believes the ORC is leaning toward is selling some of the karst buffer lands for development while protecting the sensitive properties. The option stated there will be "no direct impacts to" the environmentally sensitive property. The ORC also states under the option the karst feeder creek areas will also be protected.

Stoney Creek councillor Brad Clark argued it is the mandate of the ORC to sell surplus land.

He said the property where the karst feeder creek area begins is in danger of being destroyed if the ORC allows construction.

"The preferred option is detrimental to the feeder streams," said Mr. Clark, who attended the tour.

Mr. Clark reiterated his desire to force a showdown with the ORC. Angry that Infrastructure and Renewal Minister David Caplan blamed Hamilton for pushing to develop the lands, Mr. Clark countered Hamilton should zone the area open space. The planning decision would, he said, provoke a "confrontation" with the ORC during an Ontario Municipal Board hearing.

In 2006, the province transferred about 180 acres of the karst land, including the core area, core buffer and feeder creek areas to the HCA.

Hamilton, last September, put the brakes on further development of the karst lands until after the ORC submits its technical reports on the property. Councillors also stopped the environmental assessment process for the collector road proposed through the karst lands.

The city is proceeding with secondary planning on the lands west of the karst, north of Rymal Road.

The ORC's other options include doing nothing, leasing or selling lands to protect the area or leasing or selling the lands for development.

The ORC has indicated developing them would accommodate about 1,300 residential units and create about 800 jobs.

Mr. Clark also asked why the Liberal government can protect the large swath of greenfields under their Greenbelt legislation, but not the karst lands.

"They want to be a green government," said Mr. Clark. "Now the government suggests to develop the feeder stream. That is gross hypocrisy."

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek NDP MPP Paul Miller says the Liberal government is only interested in one thing: money.

"The ministry will push ahead with the development at the expense of the environment," said Mr. Miller, who also participated in the tour. "It's a gross injustice."

Mr. Miller grilled Mr. Caplan in the Legislature last April over the karst buffer zone, demanding to know why the ministry is "leaning to sell the 80 acres for development." But Mr. Caplan refused to address the issue.

Anne Dunderdale, media spokesperson for Mr. Caplan, said the minister had no comment on the lands while the ORC undergoes its assessment.

Tim Hudak, Niagara West-Glanbrook Progressive Conservative MPP, reiterated his commitment to protect the sensitive lands.

"I find the current proposal (from the ORC) to be unacceptable. It seems to be more about raising money for the provincial coffers through land sales than protecting our environment."

The ORC is expected to review comments from the public and other agencies on its options. It will refine its alternatives, then hold another public meeting. After that meeting, the environmental study will be available for public review for 30 days.