As an adjacent neighbor who…

As an adjacent neighbor who owns a property that is zoned agricultural, has a residence on that property, and has an already established business associated with that property, we have grave concerns about this project going forward. During the OLT hearing, there were expert witnesses presented, an odour witness, a stormwater management witness, but I think it would be imperative to have far more extensive studies completed before this project can go ahead. We are beyond concerned about our property value. We are concerned that the proposed location of this project property floods constantly during storm events. It is well known to as a groundwater recharge area. The runoff from this property has crossed over onto our land and has actually created a stream, cross-country, that runs directly into the Sydenham River. Despite barriers, ponds, and checks put in place by a storm water management plan, we do not control Mother Nature. We are all familiar with climate change, and the flooding of the stored product onto our property is of grave, grave concern. Because we are rural, we are drinking well water. Who is going to ensure the safety of our drinking water? Who is going to ensure that our cropland is such that we will be able to sell our crops when there is potential biofertilizer spillage on our property? There is no guarantee from you folks that a disaster is not impending. So we request that this approval be looked at much more carefully than it has been. Our lifestyle and the enjoyment of our property is being completely hampered. None of my children want to remain in the area. None of my children want to build on our land, which was always a plan. And it's very, very unfair that we who are established in the community for 30 years are having to consider leaving this community due to the fact that this particular facility will potentially be built. This story is replicated by all of our neighbors, and it is just a complete shame that in this day and age where everyone is concerned about the environment, species at risk, and our rights to clean drinking water that all of this is potentially compromised. The engineering of the storm water management piece for a project of this size and type has never been done before. It's a guinea pig situation. It's an experiment. This facility is the first of its kind in Ontario. Why we are treading into the unknown is beyond myself, all of my neighbors, and anyone that I come across and speak to. The actual proposed project is one thing, but where you are putting it and the containment is what is at issue here; the factors for disaster and what would be affected are innumerable. This is what needs to be looked at further.