GRAVEL WATCH ONTARIO

Today's K-W Record has an Opinion piece written by Tony Dowling titled "Gravel Watch keeps an eye on the aggregate industry". Not mentioned in this excellent article is that Tony Dowling is one of the founders and leaders of Bridgekeepers who are fighting the proposed gravel pit(s) in West Montrose. His and other locals incredible efforts are why I've long believed that they will win. It's unfortunate that the facts and circumstances surrounding the proposed gravel pits by the West Montrose Covered Bridge aren't adequate in and of themselves to do the job.

Tony's opinion piece gives us a bit of the history around the aggregate industry's stranglehold on the application and approvals process. It also shares some of the industry's failures with compliance, rehabilitation and conservation. Finally this article shows us how the momentum is starting to change. Citizens as well as municipalities are lobbying the province for long overdue reforms. I suggest that our local Council may well be in the vanguard of this needed reform. Kudos to them, Gravel Watch, Bridgekeepers and many more.