A clean-up was underway on Saturday in a popular wildlife area of Kempenfelt Bay and it's not yet clear what was spilled into the water or how an apparent spill occurred.
A Barrie resident said it appears to be a diesel spill in the duck pond area by the Southshore Centre known as Southshore Park.
Tracy McConkey was walking along the shore and caught wind of what she called a “very strong diesel smell.” She said she saw a number of trucks by the duck pond area on the south shore.
“There was, what I believe to have been some environmental (service personnel) from the City of Barrie, and a large truck,” said McConkey. “They told me it's a diesel spill and they don’t know where it's coming from or came from. I find it very concerning, especially since you can smell it from quite a distance.”
The big truck McConkey mentioned was from Region of Huronia Environmental Services (ROHES), a company that specializes in a number of waste removal services, including emergency pumping with respect to spills and overflows.
ROHES officials did not return a call requesting comment.
Ward 8 councillor Jim Harris told BarrieToday Sunday afternoon that while he was made aware of the clean-up, he isn’t sure what caused the spill.
“I received an email today about this but right now no one is exactly sure what caused whatever is in that part of the lake,” said Harris. “I do know they are working to clean it up right now and will do so until satisfied, I would guess. Hopefully there is more information tomorrow.”
The city's senior communications advisor, Scott LaMantia, provided the following statement:
"Yesterday, City staff were notified of a diesel spill at a duck pond located between the Tiffin Boat Launch and the Southshore Centre," notes the statement.
"The spill came from the Allandale Go Station. Staff brought in a contractor to help clean up the site and they were able to contain the spill using booms and absorbent material. No material has entered the Bay," the statement explained.
"The cleanup efforts are continuing today. The city informed the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and continues to provide them with updates."
McConkey told BarrieToday when looking at the water, you could “see all the colours, pink and blue and green, swirling around in the water like a chemical soup.”
“The smell was overpowering and almost made your eyes water,” said McConkey. “All of the ducks are nowhere to be found and I don’t blame them.”
