We live --add personal information-- and feel that our “golden years” could be significantly tarnished if CAPITAL Paving Inc. is allowed to proceed with the proposed Shantz Station gravel pit project.
This is my home community. I was raised --add personal information-- and attended school and church in Maryhill. My husband and I were married at St Boniface church and built our home here three years later. We raised our children to respect and care for the environment and they spent many hours exploring Hopewell Creek and the adjacent woodlands. I have saved energy by hanging my laundry outside the entire time we have built our lives here!
We feel that our quality of life will be impacted by the noise, the vibration, the dust, the increase in traffic, but most importantly the probability that our shallow-dug, spring-fed water well be affected.
In their April 6th, 2021 review of the report submitted by RiverStone Environmental for Capital Paving regarding the proposed construction of Shantz Station Gravel Pit, Environmental Liability Management Incorporated (ELM) state that “the proposed activity could also disturb the existing cultural use of groundwater by local residents in their personal and commercial water wells within 2 km of the proposed activity” (page 3).
They further state:
… it is extremely difficult for the proponents to demonstrate with high confidence the proposed activity will not result in disturbance to total water volumes or to existing high water quality. In this regard, it is a requirement of a number of provincial laws for no net loss of groundwater volumes to occur following the onset of a new activity. Similarly, these same laws state that a new activity cannot result in reductions to existing water quality. By extension, the only way to quantify these endpoints is to compile baseline observations. In this situation, if the proposed activity is to proceed, it would need to demonstrate no potential for a loss of water volumes or disturbed water quality” (Page 4).
Figure 2 on page 7 of the same report shows our home: immediately adjacent to the proposed gravel pit.
On page 21 and 22 of the report, it states:
“… a minimum of a 1-year baseline study be completed for all water wells within the 2 km radius relative to the proposed activity. This baseline study should at minimum include a complete year of water volume monitoring, accompanied by quarterly water quality analysis of groundwater collected from each well location, followed by analysis of data relative to long-term volume trends available from the Region of Waterloo or township. This baseline study should be completed by a qualified individual or company, as defined by the Safe Drinking Water and Water Resources Act, and be consistent with other relevant provincial legislation. Furthermore, analysis of water quality should be completed by a CALA accredited laboratory, to ensure accuracy and reliability of results.”
Another review was prepared by Frind and Frind on October 12th, 2021 at the request of the Hopewell Rate Payers Association. In that review of MTE Consultants Environmental Assessment, there are 18 recommendations. Recommendation #10 on page 17 states:
“Potential impacts on private and municipal wells, both in terms of water quantity and water quality, should be investigated.”
We are asking the Township to request that Capital Paving Incorporated pay for a company of our choice to compile a detailed minimum one year baseline study of our water well prior to the onset of any activity at the proposed pit. Further, we would like the Township and Capital to investigate and address these questions:
We are also concerned that this gravel pit would negatively impact our property value. We are asking the Township to request that Capital Paving Incorporated pay for a company of our choice to appraise our property value pre, during and post onset of pit activity. We would expect compensation for any difference in value should we choose to sell our property.
We have always felt blessed to live in the country but especially during these many months of Covid-19 uncertainty and restrictions. However, the proposed gravel pit with the high potential to negatively impact our quality of life in our retirement has been very stressful. Please carefully consider our very valid concerns as you move closer to making a decision on Capital Paving’s request for an amendment to Woolwich Township’s Official Plan.
Respectfully,
--add personal information--
The emails for the Mayor and Council are listed below.
pmerlihan@woolwich.ca
sshantz@woolwich.ca
lshantz@woolwich.ca
mmartin@woolwich.ca
fredekop@woolwich.ca
smcmillan@woolwich.ca
This is my home community. I was raised --add personal information-- and attended school and church in Maryhill. My husband and I were married at St Boniface church and built our home here three years later. We raised our children to respect and care for the environment and they spent many hours exploring Hopewell Creek and the adjacent woodlands. I have saved energy by hanging my laundry outside the entire time we have built our lives here!
We feel that our quality of life will be impacted by the noise, the vibration, the dust, the increase in traffic, but most importantly the probability that our shallow-dug, spring-fed water well be affected.
In their April 6th, 2021 review of the report submitted by RiverStone Environmental for Capital Paving regarding the proposed construction of Shantz Station Gravel Pit, Environmental Liability Management Incorporated (ELM) state that “the proposed activity could also disturb the existing cultural use of groundwater by local residents in their personal and commercial water wells within 2 km of the proposed activity” (page 3).
They further state:
… it is extremely difficult for the proponents to demonstrate with high confidence the proposed activity will not result in disturbance to total water volumes or to existing high water quality. In this regard, it is a requirement of a number of provincial laws for no net loss of groundwater volumes to occur following the onset of a new activity. Similarly, these same laws state that a new activity cannot result in reductions to existing water quality. By extension, the only way to quantify these endpoints is to compile baseline observations. In this situation, if the proposed activity is to proceed, it would need to demonstrate no potential for a loss of water volumes or disturbed water quality” (Page 4).
Figure 2 on page 7 of the same report shows our home: immediately adjacent to the proposed gravel pit.
On page 21 and 22 of the report, it states:
“… a minimum of a 1-year baseline study be completed for all water wells within the 2 km radius relative to the proposed activity. This baseline study should at minimum include a complete year of water volume monitoring, accompanied by quarterly water quality analysis of groundwater collected from each well location, followed by analysis of data relative to long-term volume trends available from the Region of Waterloo or township. This baseline study should be completed by a qualified individual or company, as defined by the Safe Drinking Water and Water Resources Act, and be consistent with other relevant provincial legislation. Furthermore, analysis of water quality should be completed by a CALA accredited laboratory, to ensure accuracy and reliability of results.”
Another review was prepared by Frind and Frind on October 12th, 2021 at the request of the Hopewell Rate Payers Association. In that review of MTE Consultants Environmental Assessment, there are 18 recommendations. Recommendation #10 on page 17 states:
“Potential impacts on private and municipal wells, both in terms of water quantity and water quality, should be investigated.”
We are asking the Township to request that Capital Paving Incorporated pay for a company of our choice to compile a detailed minimum one year baseline study of our water well prior to the onset of any activity at the proposed pit. Further, we would like the Township and Capital to investigate and address these questions:
- What guarantees do we have that we will be protected from any changes that this proposed pit property brings to our water supply?
- How will the amount of a contingency fund be determined to guarantee that our well be replaced if anything happens to the quality or quantity of the water during the lifetime of the proposed pit?
- We share a huge garden with my brother, Fred Drexler at 1065 Foerster Road, that provides our families with vegetables; we have maintained this garden all of our lives: 70 plus years; it was passed to us by our parents and generations beyond. Fred also hosts Bring On the Sunshine, a 10-year-old, not-for-profit local organization, who use approximately one acre of land for a community garden. How will we all be compensated if we no longer have sufficient clean water to maintain these gardens?
- Will there be a tribunal set up to investigate complaints and concerns regarding water, noise, silica dust, etc throughout the duration of the pit should it go ahead? We request representation from the community and immediately adjacent neighbours as well as Capital and the Township on such a tribunal.
- How will Capital Paving guarantee that I will continue to be able to save energy by hanging my laundry outdoors to dry?
We are also concerned that this gravel pit would negatively impact our property value. We are asking the Township to request that Capital Paving Incorporated pay for a company of our choice to appraise our property value pre, during and post onset of pit activity. We would expect compensation for any difference in value should we choose to sell our property.
We have always felt blessed to live in the country but especially during these many months of Covid-19 uncertainty and restrictions. However, the proposed gravel pit with the high potential to negatively impact our quality of life in our retirement has been very stressful. Please carefully consider our very valid concerns as you move closer to making a decision on Capital Paving’s request for an amendment to Woolwich Township’s Official Plan.
Respectfully,
--add personal information--
The emails for the Mayor and Council are listed below.
pmerlihan@woolwich.ca
sshantz@woolwich.ca
lshantz@woolwich.ca
mmartin@woolwich.ca
fredekop@woolwich.ca
smcmillan@woolwich.ca