Georgina Council endorses Holland Marsh Phosphorus Recycling Facility project

Both councils have unanimously called for York Region, the province to move facility forward to protect Lake Simcoe

Bradfordtoday.ca
Sept. 16, 2021

Today, Georgina Town Council unanimously passed Councillor Dave Neeson’s motion to move forward the proposed Holland Marsh Phosphorus Recycling Facility.

The proposed Facility will reduce phosphorous runoff from the Holland Marsh agricultural area into the Holland River and Lake Simcoe by up to 85 per cent, removing an estimated 2.5 tonnes per year. Bradford West Gwillimbury Council also unanimously passed the same motion last week, sponsored by Councillor Jonathan Scott.

“We need this Facility to proceed on an urgent basis so we can finally begin to honour our shared commitments to the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan, which calls for phosphorus pollution in the Lake to be reduced significantly,” said Neeson. “This Facility is the only proposed contribution to this important goal, and will make a significant difference in protecting the Holland River and Lake Simcoe. We need York Region and the province to work together to move this facility forward.”

The Facility is proposed by York Region to be built on the Holland River between Bradford and King. The federal government is contributing $16 million towards the estimated $40-million cost. However, the project is currently on hold because York Region was planning to include it as part of its overall “Upper York Sewage Solution” scheme, which the province has paused indefinitely.

“We need York Region to honour their commitment to build this phosphorous pollution reduction facility on an urgent basis,” said Councilllor Scott, whose ward will host the proposed Facility. “The province can and should come to the table to help fund the Facility, so we can all work together to get this recycling Facility built as soon as possible.”

Similar motions are now also proposed in other watershed municipalities including East Gwillimbury, Innisfil and Brock Township.

Supportive Quotes:

“This Facility is a vital project to protect the Holland River sub-watershed and the Lake Simcoe watershed. It will reduce phosphorus runoff by an estimated 2.5 tonnes per year, equating to reducing nearly 85% of the phosphorus runoff per year from the Holland Marsh agricultural activities. Reducing phosphorous loads in the River and Lake is critical to the overall health of our watershed. As such, our association strongly supports this motion and echoes the call for all levels of government to work together to fund, design and build this important Facility.”
-- Jody Mott, executive director, Holland Marsh Growers’ Association

“Building this phosphorus recycling plant has got to be the easiest way...to make good on those promises to protect the lake while actually taking a bite out of the lake's phosphorus loads...There have been many promises waiting to be fulfilled for Lake Simcoe...The promised plant would remove 90% of the [phosphorous]...This is the largest diversion of phosphorus ever proposed for Lake Simcoe; we have to do it.”
-- Clare Malcolmson, executive director, Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition (6 Sept 21)

“Waiting for a decision on the UYSS project before proceeding with the Holland Marsh project makes no sense. The Holland Marsh project has federal funding in place and can help to drastically reduce phosphorous pollution coming from this area (by 85%).  This is exactly the kind of action we need if we are going to meet the goals of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan and reduce phosphorous pollution reaching the lake by 55%...We need this Holland Marsh pollution reduction project to proceed.”
-- Jack Gibbons, chair, Lake Simcoe Watch

“I want to applaud Councillor Jonathan Scott and Councillor Dave Neeson for bringing forward a motion calling on all levels of government to work collaboratively to design, fund and build the much-needed Holland Marsh Phosphorus Recycling Facility. Reducing phosphorous levels in the Holland River and Lake Simcoe is a vital project to protecting this important watershed.”
-- Glen Murray, former Ontario Minister of the Environment and Climate Change

“This project alone will reduce phosphorus runoff into Lake Simcoe by 40 percent, cutting algae growth in the lake’s watershed, preserving fish habitat and protecting a major source of drinking water. We simply have to invest now in infrastructure that protects Canadians, our environment, and the biodiversity of our ecosystems...and will preserve industries that are important to the economy, including agriculture and recreation.”
-- The Honourable Catherine McKenna, former federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change (12 Nov 20)