NEWS FLASH: LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPEAKS TRUTH TO THE PUBLIC

It happened here in Waterloo Region. Paige Desmond of the Waterloo Region Record in yesterday's article in the paper titled "Wilmot vote on Hallman pit moved to April 11" quoted a Region of Waterloo staff report. "In its comments on the proposed application, Region of Waterloo staff said there's no scientific evidence available to show that through rehabilitation, prime agricultural land can be returned to its original state when a gravel pit shuts down." HALLELUJAH! ...................................................................................................................... I've been following gravel pit applications and issues for a couple of decades now. That includes attending in its entirety the Hunder Pit Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing back in approximately 2014. That proposed pit was just barely north-east of the Golf Course subdivision in Conestogo (i.e. just south of the village of Winterbourne). That was the very first time that I heard experts declare categorically that prime agricultural soils can not be returned to their original quality after being stripped from the surface, placed in piles and left sitting for years. Yesterday's newspaper article was only the second time that I've heard, seen or read that information. So much for rehabilatating prime agricultural land back to its original quality much less even close for pits that still remain unrehabilatated twenty years or more after they've opened. ........................................................................................................................................... As mentioned here (Sat. April2/22) there are alternatives to endless openings of new, unneeded gravel pits. Has the political will to buck the province finally emerged? If so how much of that is due to provincial elections in June and municipal elections in October of this year? Santa may come around once a year but politicians listening only happens one year in four at best.