To whom this may concern, I…

To whom this may concern,

I do not support the proposal for a new Environmental Compliance Approval for a waste disposal site located at 1490 Winhara Road in Gravenhurst, Ontario.

I am in disbelief that this proposal is being considered for a residential area near several environmentally protected areas.

I have many concerns with the with the proposal, many of which are related to safety. Including road safety, water quality and the preservation of local wildlife.

1. The daily maximum waste volumes for soils would be in three phases, topping out in Phase 3 with a 1,800 tonne/day maximum. This will have a significant impact on road safety. Many families with children live on Winhara, which is also a school bus route. This massive increase in truck traffic would put young people who live and play in the area at risk. Winhara Rd. is also a very popular location for residents to run, bike and drive their snowmobiles. The increased truck traffic would also greatly increase the risk of these road users being injured or killed. For this reason alone, the plant should not be built in a residential area.

Additionally having multiple tonnes of soil transported over our roads each day will destroy them. This is especially concerning for the wetlands and environmentally protected areas closest to the site.

2. The homes in the area are all on well water and residents are concerned about the potential for contaminants to leach into the groundwater.

3. There are 48 species which are currently at risk in Muskoka. Building the plant so close to environmentally protected lands would create environmental and noise pollution, which would further compromise these already vulnerable wildlife populations and surrounding wetlands. Who will be held responsible if the environment and wildlife are harmed?

3. The hours of operation will be Monday to Friday (7am to 7pm ) and Saturday (7am to 3pm). The noise and traffic would be incredibly disruptive for the residents in the area who live on Winhara Rd.

4. The devaluing of property must also be considered. No one would choose to purchase a home beside a waste disposal and soil washing plant. If residents make the decision to sell because of the safety concerns, noise, traffic, or any other reason associated with the plant, they stand to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Residential areas are meant for homes where residents can live safely, free from the excessive truck traffic, noise and environmental concerns that this proposal would bring. Please consider all aspects when deciding the fate of Winhara Rd, it's residents, and it's environmentally protected lands and wildlife.