Credit Valley Conservation’s approval of a new fill guideline is being heralded by a group of Erin landowners as a positive first step in addressing the dumping of thousands of loads of fill – which is often untested – on local properties.
“We were delighted,” Erin farmer Ed McKelvey said of the CVC board’s decision.
McKelvey, one of several residents living along Trafalgar Road who are concerned about the dumping of fill in that area, said up until last week the Erin group was frustrated that nothing was being done to address the problem.
“But today we made progress. It’s very, very positive,” he told the Advertiser on March 11.
That morning, the CVC board unanimously approved a new “large fill placement procedural guideline,” effective immediately, which defines a “large” fill project as anything over 500 cubic metres or 40 truckloads.
The guideline states that obtaining a permit from the CVC will now require a plan of survey (including fill location, elevations and quantity, as well as sediment and erosion control measures) and a soil report (stating the exact source of material and proof it meets Ministry of the Environment guidelines).
And perhaps most importantly, at least for those dealing with fill problems in Erin, the CVC will not issue any fill permits unless the owner or agent of the property involved has received written authorization from the municipality where the fill site is located.
“This will allow the municipality to consider compliance with its municipal fill bylaw, zoning, impacts on agricultural lands, the haul routes and impacts on municipal roadways, etc.,” CVC planning director Gary Murphy said in his report to the board.
“This requirement is key for the municipality to have input into CVC’s permit process.”
Erin’s previous lack of input on CVC permits had frustrated residents and councillors and led to meetings between town and CVC officials last month. McKelvey was particularly concerned about a fill project adjacent to his property on Trafalgar Road on land under the CVC’s jurisdiction.
The new CVC guideline will not apply to that property, or other such projects already underway, but McKelvey is hopeful it will prevent them in the future.
“The whole idea here is to stop it on a long-term basis,” he said, noting three Erin sites currently receiving huge amounts of fill had grown crops as late as 2010.
Local farmers are concerned adding thousands of loads of fill to that land – often without proper consideration for topsoil and fill quality – could cause the land to become sterile.
“This is a big time problem,” he said.
The next step, McKelvey added, is having the GRCA pass similar guidelines and for the town to possibly improve its own fill bylaw, which he feels is too lax and one of the reasons companies bring fill to Erin in the first place.
Erin Mayor Lou Maieron, who sits on the CVC board, suggested on Monday local changes could be a possibility.
“I think we need to look at perhaps amending it and making some additions to it,” Maieron said.
But he is pleased with the CVC’s new guidelines and is relieved the town will now have more control over large fill projects.
“Overall I’m very pleased with the CVC’s response. To their credit they acted quickly,” he said. “I think we’re much better off now; it’s not perfect, but we’re in a much better position moving forward.”
The mayor added it shouldn’t be local taxpayers “taking the risk” when it comes to large fill projects.
He suggested the province should be doing more to help municipalities deal with the effects of the growth it is legislating.
“Erin was facing all the costs of growth, without the benefits,” Maieron said, specifically mentioning the fill itself as well as truck traffic, dust, noise, and wear and tear on town roads.
Erin councillor John Brennan, who represents the town on the GRCA board, confirmed he has brought up there the idea for a guideline similar to that passed by the CVC.
“They’re agreeable in principle,” Brennan said, adding officials have to work out the specific details. He has put GRCA staff in contact with Murphy at the CVC.
