East Gwillimbury joins call for Lake Simcoe phosporus recyling facility to be fast-tracked

The proposed facility would reduce phosphorus runoff into lake by up to 85 per cent

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 23, 2021
Simon Martin

East Gwillimbury became the latest municipality to request that the Holland Marsh phosphorus recycling facility project be moved forward. “Supporting this motion is a clear statement of our commitment to environmental protection and that ensuring the health of our watershed is paramount,” Ward 1 Coun. Loralea Carruthers said. “It is non-negotiable 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.”

The proposed facility would reduce phosphorus run-off 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 toward 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” plan, which the province has paused indefinitely to review environmental concerns. “I think the message is clear that we need York Region and the other levels of government to work collaboratively to move this forward,” Carruthers said.

“We’re thrilled to see East Gwillimbury join the call to build this pollution reduction facility,” Georgina Councillor Dave Neeson said. He is one of the organizers behind the effort to get the plant fast-tracked. “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 they support seeing this phosphorus pollution facility expedited and built,” said Bradford West Gwillimbury Councillor 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.