DORVAL — The clear-cutting of trees on the Dorval Municipal Golf Course can continue unabated.
Those trying to save the green space from the expansion plans of the Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) got the news Friday: no injunction.
“You give it the best kick of the can you can but it’s still disappointing,” David Maloney, an advocate trying to save the course, told Global News minutes after the ruling was issued by a Quebec Superior Court judge late Friday afternoon.
READ MORE: Tree cutting at Dorval Golf Course violates agreement in principle
The golf course is federally owned land which leases it out to the ADM.
The airport, in turn, leases the property to the Dorval Municipal Golf Course.
ADM needs to take back the property to expand its operations and build a security check point.
READ MORE: Construction imminent to turn Dorval golf course into airport security checkpoint
Judge Wilbrod Claude Décarie ruled federally owned property is protected by federal law.
And the golf course, which is man made, is not a natural green space or a wildlife habitat.
So the argument that destroying the trees is akin to destroying the environment didn’t sway Judge Décarie.
Maloney fears once the ADM takes back control of the golf course, airport officials could try to expand even further.
“Hold on to your houses too because once they want to expand that airport a little bit more, watch out,” Maloney said.
The battle isn’t over yet.
Advocates fighting to save the golf course are asking the federal government to intervene.
So far that hasn’t happened.
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