Protect the trail capital of Canada
UMALA is a non-profit organization built by residents of Uxbridge to help other residents understand the actions and implications of local pits on the Oak Ridges Moraine.
Victory for Uxbridge! Boyington Pit Site Amendment Withdrawn.
Miller Paving has withdrawn its site amendment application for Boyington Pit #3 after strong community opposition. This means no 40,000 sq. ft. building or outdoor storage! UMALA thanks everyone who spoke out and will continue to monitor future developments.
What is happening?
There are 40+ pits in Uxbridge, all on the sensitive Oak Ridges Moraine and High Aquifer Vulnerability regions. Extracting from pits is okay, but modifying their uses beyond this poses a huge risk to the environment and our community. There are multiple pits in Uxbridge trying to change their uses – we’re here to make these proposals and the associated risks clear and transparent for the Uxbridge Community.
A Slippery Slope
Several of these 40+ pits have been recently filing for significant changes including importing foreign soil from the GTA to fill the pits, increased industrial uses, and more importantly filing for a change in governance which would give these operations free rein to operate indefinitely with these new industrial uses. If this happens, precedence will have been set and ALL pits will do this as they will make more money.
The Big Risks
There are many risks as a result of significant changes to these pit operations, but the three most concerning ones are outlined below.
The Town’s Water
These pits are on high aquifer vulnerability regions of the Oak Ridges Moraine so any contaminated soil that reaches the water will have vast effects downstream impacting thousands of people.
Pollution Levels
Each Fill Proposal adds 100+ additional gravel trucks EVERY DAY on Uxbridge’s roads bringing increased air, noise, water, and soil pollution not to mention public safety for drivers, bikers and runners. Multiply that by 40+ pits.
Property Value
These proposed changes to several pit operations will last for many years and will have dramatic impacts on property values across the entire town and beyond if these other high-risk impacts come to fruition.
Why is this the first I’m hearing of this?
Pit Operations are complex with many stakeholders with specific interests so it has historically been done behind closed doors or buried in council meetings out of sight of the average resident. If the community of Uxbridge does nothing, these changes will simply get approved and it will be too late. UMALA is bringing together experts to review the risks and deliver the facts.
What can you do now?
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