Woolwich council delays decision on controversial gravel pit
Residents got a chance to go on the record Tuesday night about a proposal for a large gravel pit in Woolwich Township.
There was a long list of speakers at the council meeting, with some expressing concerns the proposed pit would come at the expense of prime farmland.
The meeting began at 5 p.m. with more than two dozen delegates eager to share their thoughts.
According to a report from township staff, the proposed gravel pit on Forester Road near Maryhill checks all the right boxes with no unacceptable impacts. They have been urging council to approve it.
Capital Paving, the company behind the proposal, says they've revised the plan over the years to appease community concerns, including adding noise audits and multiple reviews.
The company also insists that extraction at the pit will remain above the water table.
“Capitals application has gone through its due process. We have provided all the information required and asked for,” said George Lourenco of Capital Paving. “We’ve satisfied all the agencies concerns as well as all the independent expert peer reviewers hired by both the region and the township and it’s now been over two years since the application was first made with plenty of time for consultation.”
The Guelph-based construction company plans to use 230 acres of land for the gravel pit that would be in operation for 10 to 15 years to collect material to help supply nearby construction projects.
The proposed site is located next to Merry-Hill Golf Course and staff there worry about the impact on their business.
“Loss of business income, loss of a beautiful tree inventory, noise disruption, dust disruption, visual disruption, vibration disruption, possible impacts in a water supply, potential to lose our right to build a residence on the property. The list goes on and on,” said Brandon Peister of Merry-Hill Golf Club.
Residents living nearby raised concerns about the impact on the environment and traffic. A local relator says the gravel pit could devalue properties in the area and more than 20 delegates urged council not to approve the project.
“This gravel pit will, one way or the other, will be your legacy. We urge you to stand up for your residents,” said Erin Finlay.
Council ultimately decided to delay a decision in order to gather more information about things like recycling on the site and the existing water table.
The gravel pit discussion is on pause until council’s meeting on August 10.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.