OLD (?) NEWS BUT GOOD NEWS - HALLMAN PIT

Early last week Wilmot Council voted unanimously to reject the zone change application for the Hallman Pit. That there is major opposition to this pit is obvious but that rarely induces municipal councils to do the bidding of their electorate. Possibly this being an election year (Oct. 24/22) had just as much or more to do with it. Various Wilmot councillors gave differeing reasons including the loss of fertile farmland, the proximity of the village of Shingletown, potential groundwater contamination and negative effects to wetlands and other natural buffers. Of course issues with noise and dust are also commonplace near operating gravel pits. .......................................................................................................................... Momentum appears to be growing against the unecessary proliferation of gravel pits throughout the countryside. There is a proposed moratorium on new gravel pits that has been endorsed by the City of Cambridge, Wilmot, North Dumfries and Woolwich Townships. Clearly the provincial election in June will also put the spotlight on our provincial, highly biased in favour of rampant gravel pit proliferation. Let's see if Premier Ford is ready to do at least a symbolic turnaround on that issue. The Waterloo Region Record published an article titled "Wilmot rejects Hallman Pit", written by Paige Desmond, last Wednesday.