Town seeks meeting to address fill dumping

Town councillors are hoping to meet with the Minister of Natural Resources next week to discuss the dumping of fill, which is an ongoing problem in the town.

On Feb. 15, council approved  sending to Minister Linda Jeffrey a letter that explains the situation and requests a meeting at the Ontario Good Roads Conference which runs from Feb. 27 to March 2.

The letter, signed by councillors, stated, “We have had damage to our local roads along with dust, noise and traffic issues, neighbour complaints, lack of enforcement and, most seriously, potential sterilization of our agricultural lands, along with many other issues.”

The letter explains that because of the town’s proximity to nearby urban areas, it has become an attractive dumping ground for loads of clay, marl, shale and, occasionally, contaminated soil.  It also noted the Places to Grow legislation has caused larger centres to intensify growth - and thus look for places to dump fill.

“It appears we are facing many expenses associated with growth, without the benefits that growth may bring,” the letter states.

Residents and town officials have also expressed concern about fill permits issued within Erin by the Credit Valley Conservation authority and the Grand River Conservation Authority, over which the town has no control.

But the letter noted that after a Feb. 3 meeting with the CVC, “We have come to an agreement to work together to try to alleviate some of these problems. We anticipate the same cooperation with the [GRCA].”

The town wants the ministry to take “a more active role in the issue of excess fill and how it should be properly dealt with,” and has suggested gravel pits and quarries are a much better destination for such fill than agricultural lands.

There was some debate last week among councillors on the exact wording of the letter, but they unanimously agreed to send it and request a meeting with Jeffrey.