Emotions run high as Hallman gravel pit comes to Wilmot council

Emotions were running high as the Hallman gravel pit application finally came to Wilmot Township council at a highly anticipated public meeting on Monday.

The parking lot was packed, the council chambers were filling up nearly an hour before the meeting, and two extra rooms were almost filled up as well.

Seventeen delegates were on the schedule to have their say on the Shingletown pit, with most citing concerns about the danger to groundwater, noise and vibration when it comes to the zone change application at 1894-1922 Witmer Rd.

No decision was to be made on the zone change application on Monday, as the public meeting was for information purposes and for those in the public to get their say.

Rick Esbaugh, owner of Jackson Harvest Farms Ltd., owner of the land, was present; consultants spoke on his behalf.

David Sisco of IBI Group, consultants on the project, explained zone change application and potential timeline. The presentation included noise studies, ecology and hydrogeology impacts. Sisco said nearby groundwater wells, both private and public, are not in danger of being contaminated.

David Donnelly, legal representative for Citizens for Safe Ground Water, an organization formed in summer 2019, said that “there is no need for this quarry particularly in this location.”

“It’s time to say goodbye to aggregate,” he said, adding that the township should “give it a rest” in terms of adopting another gravel pit in the area. Emotions ran high during the meeting. Robert Gebotys, who didn’t disclose his address despite a couple of requests from Wilmot Mayor Les Armstrong, was unhappy when he was cut off at the 10-minute time limit set aside for speakers.

Gebotys said that Sisco spoke for 20 minutes, but Armstrong explained that since he was part of the official application team, he was entitled to that time.

“Be a sport, mayor,” said Gebotys, pleading to finish his presentation. But Armstrong was adamant in declining the request, as it would set a precedent for the rest of the speakers on the night.

Mark Gordon, Shingletown resident, said that lives would be “forever changed” if the gravel pit was approved, and urged council to be on the side of history that rejects it. The 69-year-old brought up the township’s declaration of climate emergency in October, and said approving the application would be opposite to that in terms of approach.

The public meeting continued until about 11 p.m. According to Wilmot's procedural bylaw, council must end at that time, unless a recommendation is passed to extend.

Waterloo NDP MPP Catherine Fife and Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis took in the meeting as well.