The Town of Erin heard concerns from neighbours has it considers whether to allow the Hillsburgh gravel pit to be filled so that the site can be used for farming.
Mayor Michael Dehn says many of the people who spoke at a recent public meeting were concerned about the number of trucks going in and out of the site over the ten years it will take to remediate the property.
Dehn does not anticipate staff will have concerns the amount of truck traffic could damage the roads in the area.
“I believe that road was originally put in by the gravel pit and paved and brought up to truck standards,” explained Dehn. “It only goes right to the gate of the pit, it doesn’t go beyond that, north. So it is right now a truck route and an approved truck route to that site.”
Local residents were also concerned with the site’s proximity to the headwaters of the West Credit River and worried that any contamination in the fill could pose a threat to the water way.
There have also been cases of people trespassing on the site to swim in the pond that formed from the excavation work. Dehn said most recently the site’s owner had to address issues with ATV operators using the property but is confident the owner has addressed that.
Should the proposal be approved, it would take ten years to fill the pit. Staff will be coming back to council with a recommendation at a future meeting.
