A hog farm application in Erinsville has gotten the rubber stamp from Stone Mills council.
A virtual meeting was held last week to discuss the application and the group Concern Citizens for Our Community Environments (CCCE) made a presentation asking council to reconsider.
The citizen’s group stated there were a number of discrepancies, such as incomplete elements in the Nutrient Management Strategy, the hydrogeology work was insifficient and there is a danger of porous limestone karst on site which could lead to leaching to Beaver Lake.
The site plan control application for the farm was approved at a Stone Mills council meeting in May.
Councillors have received plenty of response to the application stating the concern about the operation being located next to residents, a church, a local elementary school and close to the shores of Beaver Lake.
Also, residents were upset that the proximity of this intensive hog operation to Erinsville restricts future development in the community and has the potential to negatively impact tourism and economic development.
The CCCE asked the Council of Stone Mills Township to delay the issuance of a building permit by 60 days to give them the opportunity to conduct their own review.
Susan Moore from the Friends of Salmon River displayed a map showing evidence of a stream flowing from Slack’s property directly to Beaver Lake, and said “This increases the chance of contaminated water flow into neighbouring wells, Beaver Lake and the Salmon River system.”
Stone Mills planner, Jason Sands expressed his opinion that approving the building permit is their best option.
Stone Mills Council made only one small concession, recommending that Quinte Conservation be requested to investigate new information that the hog factory installation is sited too close to an existing watercourse that leads to Beaver Lake.
“The response from council was a big fat disappointment” said Robert Storring, CCCE member and long-time local resident.
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