Funding application denied; Big Lake study likely lost

Puslinch Township received word last week its Rural Economic Development (RED) grant application was rejected, meaning the township would be on the hook for almost $200,000 to cover the Big Lake study.

And that likely means the study will not proceed.

Four out of five councillors have spoken out against any taxpayer money going towards the study - even  the rejected $193,000 provincial RED grant and a $200,000 grant previously approved by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities - so it is unlikely they would approve of Puslinch tax dollars going towards the plan to transform several gravel pits along Concession 2 into one large lake measuring 700 acres.

Mayor Dennis Lever said he talked to representatives from the gravel pits involved and has asked them to present their case - and funding plan - to council in January.

He said that meeting will still take place, despite the rejection of the RED grant application.