Fact: This DOES NOT result in a guarantee that trucks won't travel local roads. Gravel truck operators are paid by the load, which encourages them to find the quickest route to their destination. They will go where they want. How will the trucks be stopped from travelling Shelter Valley Road and other local roads? Who will police this? How does this address the noise, dust, vibration, visual impact, loss of quality of life, loss of property value, effect on the environment, loss of habitat and other issues¹ from the peer reviews that will result from a pit operating in the midst of this scenic rural-residential area?

"Any adverse environmental impacts on the pit site will be temporary due to the plan to rehabilitate the site following the life of the pit."²

Fact: "Quite often when a pit is active, expansion of operations is sought and granted. Therefore how temporary these impacts are is undefined and subject to change."³

What does "expansion of operations" mean? Remember that the SVA reps were unsure whether they would need drilled wells on site in order to have access to water for gravel cleaning and dust suppression. Therefore their application does not include the drilling of wells. Do they anticipate that once approved, they will be able to apply for and receive the go ahead more easily?

"Apparently (The Aggregate Resources Act) is not enforced by the MNR. In violation of this law, pits in Ontario commonly do not carry out progressive rehabilitation."⁴ "Government agencies, more often than not, do not enforce their own legislation when it comes to dealing with large corporations."⁵

"The peer review process changes nothing. Now that the peer reviews have been completed, it's just a matter of time until approval".

Fact: Our worst fears have been confirmed by the peer reviews. The fact that the site is located on a hill surrounded by valley makes it different from many other sites in Ontario and as a result, perimeter berming would be ineffective in providing visual or acoustical shielding.⁶ The Operations Plan as presented by SVA does not address visual impact, noise, and dust exposure while extraction is occurring at elevations higher than the berms. More information is required on groundwater table elevations and well locations relative to the site.⁷ The environmental study shows that without the central and north woodlots, half of the area's sensitive birds known from this property will be lost. This indicates that the proposed operation will have a negative impact on significant plant and wildlife resources on this property.⁸

These peer reviews prove that more study is needed. They were commissioned by council to reveal any issues that needed more investigation and they have done just that. More studies must be done by SVA.

"The Township of Alnwick Haldimand will benefit financially by approving this pit."

Fact: If approved, the pit's property tax will be changed to the industrial rate. This will be a potential increase, NOT a new source of revenue. The industrial rate is broken into two parts: one rate for "operating" areas and another substantially lower rate for the larger "inactive" areas. As we do not know the assessed value of the property, we cannot determine the property taxes. We hope that Council knows.

A gravel pit operator pays a flat fee of 6 cents* per tonne⁹ a year to the Municipality. The MAXIMUM rate of extraction estimated by SVA was 500,000 tonnes a year. That would result in the Township receiving $30,000 annually. Remember that SVA reps stated it would be unlikely they would operate at this maximum and, therefore, the Township could expect to receive considerably less.

The expenses that would come as a result of approving this pit are many and costly. It has been estimated that road repairs for damage caused by trucks could range from approximately $5,000 for small areas of damaged road that must be resurfaced(think of the repair to Pipeline Rd. at the gas compressor station) to upwards of $50,000 per kilometre to completely resurface a road including new gravel, pavement, culverts, ditches etc. We can absolutely expect to have to shoulder the cost of ongoing road repairs as a result of added truck traffic.

And what of potential law suits against the Township for injury or death as a result of accidents involving these gravel trucks on Township roads? Other municipalities already dealing with these realities, teeter at the brink of bankruptcy, while basically "subsidising the aggregate industry by providing it with infrastructure (roads, inspectors, etc.)."¹⁰ And while they are struggling, the pit operators are laughing all the way to the bank.

Fact: Mayor Finley has stated that he wants a decision by April. The peer reviews confirm that a decision CANNOT be made without further study.

Shelter Valley Aggregates must address ALL concerns raised by the peer reviews. If we still don't know the impact on ground water, then more study needs to be done. If we don't know what expansion of operations could be possible, then we should find out first. If there is no way to protect local residences from the noise and visual impact of the pit, then it should be refused. Does Council know whether potential financial gains outweigh the losses due to road repairs etc.? Let's make sure.

Letter writing is crucial. Council reads these letters and is taking our opinions into consideration. The traffic impact study was requested by council as a result of our letters. They are interested in our input.

DON'T WAIT FOR SPRING, DO IT NOW! Please at all times be respectful and polite as letters written in a negative tone are dismissed regardless of any valid points they may make.

Alnwick-Haldimand Council
Box 70
Grafton, ON
K0K 2G0

Mr. Lou Rinaldi, MPP Northumberland
1005 Elgin Street
Suite 303
Cobourg, ON
K9A 5J4

Write A Letter to the Editor:

Cobourg Daily Star
P.O.Box 400
Cobourg, ON
K9A 4L1

Northumberland News
884 Division Street,
Building 2, Unit 7
Cobourg, ON
K9A 4J9

The Brighton Independent
1 Young St.
P.O. Box 1030
Brighton, Ontario
K0K 1H0

The Colborne Chronicle
11 King St. E.
P.O. Box 208
Colborne, ON
K0K 1S0

Sources:
1. Peer Reviews can be viewed here

2. Shelter Valley Aggregates Level 2 Report
Gartner and Lee Limited, February 2003.

3. Environmental Peer Review
Niblett Environmental Associates Inc., January, 2004

4. Gravel Watch -
Gravel in Ontario/ Ontario Law/ Rehabilitation

5. Gravel Watch -
Gravel in Ontario/ Sierra Legal Defence Fund

6. Noise Impact Peer Review
Howe, Gastmeier, Chapnik Limited, December 23, 2003

7. Noise Impact Peer Review
Howe, Gastmeier, Chapnik Limited, December 23, 2003

8. Environmental Peer Review
Niblett Environmental Associates Inc., January, 2004.

9. Gravel Watch -
Gravel in Ontario/ UK

10. Gravel Watch -
Gravel in Ontario/ UK

* Correction:
The six cents a tonne paid by the gravel pit operator
is divided between the Province, County, Township, and an "abandoned pit" fund.
Of the six cents, the Township only receives four cents,
making the maximum potential only $20,000, not $30,000.
This money is specifically allocated to road repair,
so this is not a source of revenue but an attempt to assist
in covering the damage done to the roads by the gravel trucks.
As we know from our research, in most cases this comes
no where near covering the expenses involved.
We, the rate payers, will have to make up the difference.

Can the property taxes resulting from re-zoning this land to industrial possibly outweigh the expected loss of residential taxes in surrounding areas due to property value decrease as a result of the pit?