Infrastructure
 41. (1) In this section, “infrastructure” means all physical structures, facilities and corridors that form the foundation for development of an area including, (a)  public highways, (b)  transit lines, railways and associated corridors and facilities, (c)  gas and oil pipelines and associated facilities, (d)  sewage and water service systems, including septage treatment systems, (e)  stormwater management systems, (f)  electric generation facilities and electricity transmission and distribution systems, (g)  waste management systems, (h)  telecommunications lines and facilities, including broadcasting towers, (i)  bridges, interchanges, stations and other structures, above and below ground, that are required for the construction, operation or use of the facilities listed in clauses (a) to (h), and (j)  rights of way required for the systems and facilities listed in clauses (a) to (i). O. Reg. 141/17, s. 32 (1). (1.1) Municipalities shall ensure that land use planning is coordinated with infrastructure planning and investment with a view to complying with the requirements of this section and to implementing the Plan. O. Reg. 141/17, s. 32 (1). (1.2) Municipalities shall ensure that the development of new infrastructure or the upgrading or extension of existing infrastructure is supported by the necessary studies, assessments and documentation such as infrastructure master plans, asset management plans, land use and financial scenarios, watershed studies and subwatershed plans, environmental assessments and other relevant studies that, (a)  demonstrate that infrastructure will be financially feasible and sustainable over the long-term; (b)  demonstrate that an adequate water supply is available for the development, and that there is sufficient assimilative capacity to deal with the sewage from the development, without compromising the ecological integrity of the Plan Area; (c)  address stormwater management at appropriate scales throughout the land use planning process; (d)  utilise appropriate low impact development techniques and green infrastructure; and (e)  assess actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate change impacts. O. Reg. 141/17, s. 32 (1). (2) An application for the development of infrastructure in or on land in a Natural Linkage Area shall not be approved unless, (a)  the need for the project has been demonstrated and there is no reasonable alternative; and (b)  the applicant demonstrates that the following requirements will be satisfied, to the extent that is possible while also meeting all applicable safety standards: 1.  The area of construction disturbance will be kept to a minimum. 2.  Right of way widths will be kept to the minimum that is consistent with, i.  meeting other objectives such as stormwater management and erosion and sediment control, and ii.  locating as much infrastructure uses within a single corridor as possible. 3.  The project will allow for wildlife movement. 4.  Lighting will be focused downwards and away from Natural Core Areas. 5.  The planning, design and construction practices adopted will keep any adverse effects on the ecological integrity of the Plan Area to a minimum.  O. Reg. 140/02, s. 41 (2); O. Reg. 141/17, s. 32 (2, 3). (2.1) An application for the development of infrastructure in or on land in a prime agricultural area shall not be approved unless, (a)  the need for the project has been demonstrated and there is no reasonable alternative that could avoid the development occurring in a prime agricultural area; and (b)  an agricultural impact assessment, or equivalent analysis carried out as part of an environmental assessment, is undertaken that demonstrates that there will be no adverse impacts to the prime agricultural area or that such impacts will be minimized and mitigated to the extent possible. O. Reg. 141/17, s. 32 (4). (3) An application for the development of infrastructure in or on land in a Natural Core Area shall not be approved unless the applicant demonstrates that, (a)  the requirements of subsection (2) have been met; (b)  the project does not include and will not in the future require a highway interchange or a transit or railway station in a Natural Core Area; and (c)  the project is located as close to the edge of the Natural Core Area as possible.  O. Reg. 140/02, s. 41 (3); O. Reg. 141/17, s. 32 (5). (4) Except as permitted in subsection (5), with respect to land in a key natural heritage feature or a key hydrologic feature, the development of new infrastructure and the upgrading or extension of existing infrastructure, including the opening of a road within an unopened road allowance, is prohibited. O. Reg. 141/17, s. 32 (6). (5) Infrastructure may be permitted to cross a key natural heritage feature or a key hydrologic feature if the applicant demonstrates that, (a)  the need for the project has been demonstrated and there is no reasonable alternative; (b)  the planning, design and construction practices adopted will keep any adverse effects on the ecological integrity of the Plan Area to a minimum; (c)  the design practices adopted will maintain and, where possible, improve or restore key ecological and recreational linkages, including the trail system referred to in section 39; (d)  the landscape design will be adapted to the circumstances of the site and use native plant species as much as possible, especially along rights of way; and (e)  the long-term landscape management approaches adopted will maintain and, where possible, improve or restore the health, diversity, size and connectivity of the key natural heritage feature or key hydrologic feature.  O. Reg. 140/02, s. 41 (5); O. Reg. 141/17, s. 32 (7, 8). (6) Service and utility trenches for infrastructure shall be planned, designed and constructed so as to keep disruption of the natural groundwater flow to a minimum.  O. Reg. 140/02, s. 41 (6); O. Reg. 141/17, s. 32 (9).