Springwater Township council has unanimously rejected the County of Simcoe's plan to build an organics processing facility (OPF) and materials management facility (MMF) on a Horseshoe Valley Road site.
"We don't know a lot of information on this," said Councillor Sandy McConkey. "I don't have any confidence yet.
"I'd like to stand up here and be an ambassador ... and feel that I can be proud to have it, but I cannot move forward yet."
The County of Simcoe announced Tuesday that the preferred site for two waste management facilities is 2976 Horseshoe Valley Road West, next to Nicholyn Farms in the village of Phelpston.
Springwater Township Mayor Bill French disagrees.
"It's not automatic," French told residents at Wednesday's council meeting. "Just because they own the property doesn't mean they can start immediately."
"The population is growing faster in the south, and we would see a lot of truck coming from that part of the county," he said. "Maybe they should look at a different site."
About 50 people attended a Springwater Township council meeting Wednesday evening, to hear more about the County's plan.
French assured the audience that the process to develop the site is lengthy, and many studies including a soil quality test, analysis of agricultural potential, a traffic impact study, environmental impact study, noise and odour impact studies, storm water management, functional plan, and a hazard land assessment.
Deputy Mayor Don Allen, whose request to speak about the "flawed" process at County Council failed last week, spoke for 20 minutes and presented a motion asking the County to halt the process.
His motion passed unanimously, demanding the County stop its current planning process and instead complete a comprehensive business plan that would identify potential technologies, timelines, benefit and costs for the proposed MMF and OPF.
Allen used the example of a similar project underway in Surrey B.C. In that case, the city "made some mistakes" and realized that "a business plan was required to be completed early in the process."
Councillors say a roads analysis and environmental assessment are needed and they are concerned about potential costs for additional maintenance, policing, fire services and emergency management planning. They also voiced concern about the impact on groundwater.
Allen called the county's cost estimate of 10 to 35 million "a wild range of numbers that is way too low based on other facilities that have been built."
He suggested $50 million as a realistic price tag. Allen also said that waiting seven to 10 years "to do it right" would be a better approach.
The site is located in Councillor Jennifer Coughlin's ward, just five kilometres from her house.
"It is difficult to get so many phone calls and emails and to say 'I don't know.'," she said.
"Over the last 24 hours, it has been many, many phone calls and the majority of the phone calls that I have received have been about traffic.
"We travel these roads every day. We know that Horseshoe Valley Road as it is, is already dangerous," she said.
The plant will increase traffic and the County report says HV Road "as a classified highway there will be minimal impact to current traffic volumes on HVR west.
The estimated maximum impact is 210 vehicles generaged by the facility.
"Our concern is not cars, it is truck traffic," said Councillor Coughlin.
Springwater will request their approved motion to be added to Tuesday's County committee of the whole meeting, but French reminded residents "there is no guarantee that it will happen."
Councillor Jack Hanna invited everyone in the audience to attend Tuesday's County council meeting.
"If there is anyway you can make it, please be there," he said. "Being in the stands makes a difference."
After Tuesday's committee meeting, the recommendation will need final approval from County Council on March 22.
Public information sessions on the report are scheduled for April 19 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Simoe County museum.
Known as Site C136, the location at 2976 Horseshoe Valley Road West ranked first with the following “primary advantages”:
- Provides transportation efficiencies – minimal impact to current traffic volumes with an estimated maximum impact of 210 vehicles
- Offers the most usable space – facility will use only five per cent of the property
- Has good separation distance from nearby houses – all neighbouring houses/businesses have the potential to be more than 500 metres away
- Scored high among all environmental criteria
- Provides cost savings and economic benefits – an existing County asset that allows for a co-located facility enabling shared capital and operational costs
An organics processing facility will convert green bin material into compost or fertilizer.
Currently, the material collected across Simcoe County is hauled to a processing facility in Hamilton.
The plan also includes a materials management facility where waste from multiple locations will be consolidated before transport to other disposal sites.
The County currently uses a facility in Barrie.
