A last minute bid on Monday night by Puslinch councillor Dick Visser to provide financial support for dredging efforts at Puslinch Lake was unsuccessful.
Visser was responding to correspondence from Stan Denhoed, a hydrological consultant hired by the township, which indicated the Puslinch Lake Conservation Association’s (PLCA) application for a certificate of approval was being “returned” to the group.
When Visser asked what exactly that meant, Mayor Brad Whitcombe said the application was “basically rejected.”
Visser then wondered if the dredging process will be “shut down.” Clerk Brenda Law said she hasn’t heard anything about that, but Denhoed is corresponding with provincial officials.
Visser said the PLCA has overcome numerous hurdles in regards to the dredging operation over the last 12 years, though he hinted the province’s recent rejection may be “insurmountable.”
He suggested the township set aside $50,000 for the PLCA now so it can continue its efforts to improve the quality of the lake.
But Whitcombe said such an expenditure would be “inappropriate” given four of five current councillors will not be part of the new group being sworn in on Dec. 1.
“We’re a dead duck,” Whitcombe said, playing on the wording of council’s lame duck status. He added there is no money in the 2010 budget for such an expenditure.
Whitcombe explained Denhoed has done a lot of work over the years with the PLCA on the dredging. The mayor noted the PLCA has overcome many obstacles in the past and they may be able to do so again.
He also said he hopes the new council will be as willing to help the PLCA as the outgoing one was.
In his letter to provincial officials, Denhoed said “we would like to keep the application open and work through technical issues raised by the technical group and eventually design issues raised by the approvals branch.
“It remains our professional opinion, based on extensive monitoring, that the site activities are not harmful to the environment or causing contaminated groundwater to flow off site and impact water supplies.”
