Bylaw to pause gravel pit applications denied by local council

Grey County municipal officials have rejected a proposed by-law which would restrict new gravel pits. CTV London’s Scott Miller reports.

Citizens fighting for a bylaw to pause the approval process for four large gravel pits near Durham were left disappointed last week when West Grey council denied their request.

“Council had a clear opportunity to protect the Saugeen River, local residents, our ecosystems, but chose not to take it. Were we disappointed? Absolutely,” said Saugeen Preservation Society leader Judi Smelko.

West Grey’s denial of an interim control bylaw on aggregate applications means it will now be up to Grey County to review the entire county’s aggregate policies, which may not happen until 2027.

“Given the simple function of an interim control bylaw, to press pause on consequential projects until policies have been evaluated for their adequacy, we are disappointed by West Grey’s decision. Uncertainty around which level of government is responsible for this issue continues to be a serious barrier to timely and meaningful action,” said Matthew Robbins, Fish and Wildlife biologist with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.

“These applications will now be managed with out of date policies that will not ensure the right decision is being made. So, while it’s disappointing, we’re not discouraged. It’s only strengthened our resolve to keep pushing for stronger science-based policies that put community and environment, first,” said Smelko.

That’s exactly how Rebecca Garrett and Jennifer Morris feel. For the past five years, they have been fighting a proposed below water table gravel pit in Huron County, near the Maitland River.

They say their research shows that Ontario can build what it wants for the next 30 years, by simply pulling from the gravel pits already in production. New pits aren’t even needed.

“We’re not saying we’re against gravel extraction. We’re just saying that it needs to be done in a responsible way, making sure that we’re managing it as the nonrenewable resource that it is, and not just issuing licenses left and right. We have enough already that is licensed for extraction,” said Morris, from the group Friends of Ball’s Bridge and Little Lakes.

The Ball’s Bridge Little Lakes citizen’s group is taking their fight to an Ontario Land Tribunal hearing, which resumes in December.

“All of these problems can be summed up in two words, which is bad planning. And so, we have not been convinced by anyone, by any experts that there will not be ecological damage and harm, health effects, unknown effects on groundwater, and on the Maitland River,” said Garrett, also a member of Friends of Ball’s Bridge and Little Lakes.

The gravel industry said Ontario needs four billion tonnes of aggregate over the next 20 years to meet Ontario’s infrastructure needs, and new pits open up the opportunities to meet those demands.

Smelko said it’s about where the pits go. Proximity to rivers, wetlands, and homes, should be taken into consideration.

“At the end of the day, this is really about balance and timing. Making sure gravel extraction doesn’t come at the cost of our watersheds, clean water, healthy ecosystems or community well-being,” said Smelko.