Telephone Rd pit expansion proposed

Cramahe gravel pit owners, Mike Voskamp and Bruce and Michelle Cotter hope to expand their gravel pit on Telephone Rd. south of Dundonald.

Bernie Fuhrmann spoke to Cramahe Township Council on October 6, explaining what the group must do to obtain the necessary approvals.

Much of the existing pit has been worked but studies have shown that there is more marketable aggregate on the south end of the property. Letters have gone out to neighbours of the site to inform them of the plan.

The next step is to meet the licencing requirements of the provincial Aggregate Resources Act. Stringent requirements regarding hours of operation, depth of extraction, security and fuel storage must be met. Signs have gone up and the proposal will be advertised in local papers. A meeting will be held at the Cramahe Town Hall on November 18

The property must also be re-zoned by the township from agricultural to extractive industrial.

The owners are promising to rehabilitate the site as they work toward the south end. Land will be returned to agricultural use. Mr. Fuhrmann promised there will be minimal impact on the environment. A woodlot on the property will be retained.

In response to a question by Mayor Marc Coombs, Mr. Fuhrmann stated the owners believe there are 1,000,000 tons of material. They cannot be certain as to its marketability.

A site plan will be presented to the township next week

A formal plan will be presented to the township on Oct. 19.