Application by JT Excavating Lot 22 North Side of Concession 4NDR

The Tremble property is nestled into a bend in the Saugeen River, it is surrounded by County hazard lands as well as the floodplain and SVCA protected area (shown in green in the above image) which also bisects the property. Lot 22 in it's current untouched state is a significant groundwater recharge area and is integral to maintaining how the flood waters are managed and flow in this area.  Any changes in how the floodplain currently works will have serious detrimental impact on surrounding properties as well as those up and downstream on the Saugeen River.

The studies they did on the Tremble property identified many required setbacks to accommodate for:

  • Indigenous Artifacts
  • Significant Woodlands
  • Internal haul route upgrades only allowed to the east to protect the endangered Black Ash
  • Setback from woodland to protect the Northern Pee-Wee Bird habitat
  • 30m to protect the central “ravine feature” with locally significant wetland
  • significant Valleylands
  • SVCA Protected Area, and Hazard lands.

 

Current environment floodplain and ecosystem (Tremble Pit)

Throughout the studies they talk about the Saugeen being “X meters away at it's closest” and same for the SVCA  protected lands and County Hazard lands.

Lets look at exactly how much frontage of these surround Lot 22.

3.8 km of the Saugeen river. There are also 2 tributaries to the Saugeen and their headwaters connected to/on this property, one bisecting the excavation area and one across the road to the south.

2.7 km of SVCA protected and similar for Grey County Hazard Lands

The Tremble pit is quite literally a puzzle piece they have tucked in and pulled back to fit into an unsuitable location.

Extracting this tiny amount is not justifiable. Lot 22 is an important piece of land in the neighbourhood as it sits.  Changes to this land will have far-reaching consequences and monetary costs that will ultimately reach all taxpayers in the area.

Residents can't pick up and move without losing the homes and businesses they love.  Both applicants can find aggregates elsewhere. There are 1670 MILLION tonnes of aggregates available in Grey County as per the Aggregate Resources Inventory of the Grey County Southern Ontario. These pits each contain approximately 0.089% of the available aggregates.