East Gwillimbury joins call to move Holland Marsh Phosphorus Recycling Facility forward

Bradfordtoday.ca
Nov. 18, 2021

On Tuesday night, East Gwillimbury Council unanimously passed the latest motion to move forward the proposed Holland Marsh Phosphorus Recycling Facility, becoming the latest municipality in the Lake Simcoe watershed to endorse the motion.

“Supporting this motion is a clear statement of our commitment to environmental protection and that ensuring the health of our watershed is paramount,” said Coun. Loralea Carruthers, who sponsored the motion. “I’d like to thank our environment committee for leading the way on this motion, and to our town staff for their support. It is nonnegotiable that this plant move forward so we can protect our watershed, realize our goals under the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan and ensure growth in our region is done sustainably. I think the message is clear that we need York Region and the other levels of government to work collaboratively to move this forward.”

The proposed Facility will reduce phosphorus runoff into Lake Simcoe by up to 85 per cent, removing an estimated 2.5 tonnes per year.

The Facility was 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 says they were planning to include it as part of their overall “Upper York Sewage Solution” scheme, which the province has paused indefinitely to review environmental concerns.

“We’re thrilled to see East Gwillimbury join the call to build this pollution reduction facility,” said Georgina Coun. Dave Neeson, one of the organizers behind these efforts. “It’s important that East Gwillimbury, as a fellow community in York Region that is experiencing population growth, is adding their voice to our call to protect the Lake Simcoe watershed by building this facility that York Region committed to deliver. We will continue to facilitate this unprecedented unity from municipalities to ensure all levels of government work together to fund and move it forward at last.  ”

“Municipalities, environmental groups, the development community and the federal and provincial governments have made it clear that they support seeing this phosphorus pollution facility expedited and built,” said Bradford Coun. Jonathan Scott, who sponsored the first motion. “We need all levels of government to work together to deliver this facility, not to play political games at the expense of our watershed.”

Similar motions have already passed in Bradford West Gwillimbury, Georgina, Innisfil, Brock, King, Ramara and Barrie.