GRAVEL PIT APPLICATIONS JUST KEEP ON COMING

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story "North Dumfries group has just eight weeks to make their case against gravel pit". They've apparently run into some snags with two expert witnesses no longer available to help their case plus their lawyer just resigned after their toxicologist was not permitted to testify due to procedural matters. Board Chair Jyoti Zuidema stated "Come hell or high water, the meeting is going ahead". She also stated "No more delays". Well I wonder how much time she will be taking when the hearing is over to render her decision. Here in Woolwich Township we had a month long hearing over the Hunder Pit located between Conestogo and Winterbourne. The hearing finished late last October and we are still waiting for the Decision from the Ontario Municipal Board.

I posted here in the Advocate how unfair, time consuming and expensive the entire process was, to all parties. Interestingly while the Hunder Pit has not named an operator, the latest new pit in Woolwich (Jigs Hollow Pit) just downriver a few hundred yards is a cooperative effort between Kuntz and Preston Sand & Gravel. Although there are many health and environmental reasons to object to a pit next to residential neighbourhoods my recollection is that economic demand and or need for a pit in that specific location is not even on the table. With 30 plus gravel pits already located in North Dumfries it does seem a bit unecessary for yet another. I sincerely hope this residents group have contacted Gravel Watch (Ontario) and received advice and tips as to what they need to bring to the OMB hearing.