OPAL Provides Landfill Update

Saturday, 29 August 2015 at 11:22

Oxford People Against the Landfill has stalled the progression of the Walker Environmental Group for now

OXFORD COUNTY - It has been slow progress for those apart of the anti-dump group known as Oxford People Against the Landfill.

OPAL has been opposing the project for over 3 years now and although they may have temporarily halted the Walker Environmental Group more work still needs to be done. A member on the Board of Directors with OPAL, Howard DeJong, explains the problems the group currently faces. "On one hand we have got a terms of reference that seems stalled at the Ministry, the 40,000 letters we have sent they are making a difference. Things are stumped right now and that is a good thing, but in behind the scenes they have passed throwing the sludge and wastewater into the West Quarry Lake we've got problems here." OPAL is concerned that if the landfill takes over it pollute the water in the area therefore affecting everyone in Oxford County.

The fight rages on between Oxford People Against the Landfill and the Walker Environmental Group and while numerous community leaders have opposed the landfill over troubling impacts it would have on the environment the issue is far from over. DeJong explains the support OPAL has received since they began. "It is difficult to gauge, sometimes people of Woodstock are starting to wake up to this thing. It's going to end up eventually affecting all of our water supplies, when and if this thing leaks it is not just Ingersoll and Beachville it is going to be another couple of years for sure. It is an on going battle." The possible future dump has been put a stand still while the West Quarry Lake has its water tested.

DeJong, explains why the Walker group just hasn't given up on the project and gone elsewhere. "There's a great big hole in the ground there that they can fill, but once they get that first 200 acre parcel through they also have an option on 2,800 acres of Carmeuse land. It has been a struggle, we have been at it for 3 years now when this landfill leaks and they all do it is Oxford County that will be paying for it."