Walker Releases Draft Terms of Reference

Monday, 27 May 2013 11:22

The next step has been taken towards a mega-landfill being opened up in Beachville. Walker Environmental, as scheduled, released its draft Terms of Reference late last week. It's a 31 page document, outlining the various questions and concerns raised by the public as it relates to the impact the landfill would have. Walker's "technical experts" will attempt to answer those concerns. The draft is now open for a 30-day public comment period. Walker GM Joe Lyng says he hopes the public will read the document and make comments over the next 30-days. "Hopefully we've written it in a way that the average person can go through and understand what we're getting at. There is a fair amount of planning and environmental language in there, but I think we've tried the best we could to use plain language so the average person can pick up and read it." The draft Terms of Reference is available for anyone to pick up and read at the following locations: -Municipal offices in Zorra, Southwest Oxford, Ingersoll and the County of Oxford -Ingersoll and Thamesford Libraries -The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food office at 401 Lakeview Drive in Woodstock -Ministry of the Environment London Regional/District Office -Walker Environmental Group office at 160 Carnegie Street in Ingersoll Steve McSwiggan with Oxford People Against the Landfill says they have a committee looking at the draft terms, but says they'll likely hold off on comments until the final terms are released. "People are going to get more bang for their buck, as far as comments go at the final term, because that's when you should be going to the Ministry. They're the voice that has to listen to the public comment. That's when you're going to be heard by both parties, the Ministry and the proponent." McSwiggan, who also sits on the Community Liaison Committee that provided input to Walker, says he and others on that committee are "disappointed" that more input from the CLC wasn't included in the draft Terms of Reference. Below: a timeline from Walker on the next steps for their landfill proposal.