WOOLWICH COUNCIL ARE STICKING TO THEIR GUNS

This week's Council meeting (Tuesday evening) indicates that our new Council are not backing off on their commitments in regards to gravel pits or the proposed Bio-En facility. Council have sent in their formal comments to the M.O.E. and continue to express displeasure with the location of Bio-En on Martin's lane in Elmira. This may be a formality as we hope that both parties are discussing feasible alternatives that will both please the neighbouring residents and still make this worthwhile green energy project viable.

In regards to the Lockhart Pit on Middlebrook Rd., two outstanding and difficult issues are being dealt with. While all comments on the history of this pit have been positive nevertheless Woolwich staff have been pushing two issues namely vertical zoning and a sunset clause. The Region of Waterloo are also in agreement with township staff as to the necessity for vertical zoning ie. depth to the water table however the province and Ministry of Natural resources (M.N.R.) are not. The sunset clause refers to a maximum time period that the pit can remain open and working versus the normal situation whereby they just go on forever. There seems to be more agreement on this issue than the other. I am pleased to see a Municipal Council sticking to their guns on an issue, rather than rolling over as most Councils have done in the past, so as not to upset the province. The province are wrong and the local Council are right.