Dredging causes sleepless nights in Keswick

Off shore construction on Lake Simcoe is creating sleepless nights for Keswick residents. (KC Colby / CTV Barrie)

There are a lot of unhappy and tired people in the Keswick area right now.  The problem a major project that involves off shore dredging on Lake Simcoe.

York Region is putting in a new water pollution control plant and that involves laying pipe underwater. The construction began last month and most of the work is being done at night. Residents say the bright lights coming from the barge and loud noise is unbearable.

“It's been like trying to sleep with a lawnmower going all night long,” says Cameron Sturgess who lives right near the construction site.

Helmut Keberer lives beside the area under construction and like many in the neighbourhood had no idea what was going on when the project started.

“Most of us were taken by surprise because we weren’t contacted as to what was going on and happening,” he said.

When residents complained to the town of Georgina they were told it was a York region issue and that no noise by-law existed on water. Residents have started an online petition to have the night construction stop and if that doesn’t happen some say they may apply for financial reimbursement from the region and town. Cameron Sturgess posted his displeasure with the operation on Facebook and found others were unhappy too.

“Within 12 hours we had 75 people signing up saying this is unacceptable,” says Sturgess who understands the construction must happen but wants the overnight work to come to an end. “All we're asking is from 11 pm till 6 am that the noise level to be what it is now which is reasonably quiet.”

Georgina councillor Phil Craig says he's taken complaints from residents as far as 4 kilometers away from the construction site.

“It’s causing them not to sleep so of course i sympathize with them,” the ward two councillor says.

York Region’s engineering manager, Brian Wolf told CTV that noise barrier protection has been installed on the equipment, and that crews have changed the direction of bright work lights and are working within their legal rights.

There are no planned meetings between both sides to discuss the issues but for now the construction will continue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.