Drag & Spruce Lakes

Update on the Proposed Biochar Plant Planned for Kennaway Road

from  Karl Gonnsen, DSLPOA President

Last Monday, November 7, 2016 there was a Public Meeting under the Planning Act regarding an application filed by the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve to re-zone property that they recently purchased on Kennaway Road. I recently posted an alert on this website (see below). The Haliburton Echo has an article in this week’s paper regarding that meeting – see below for link.

As the Echo says the meeting was well attended and for the first time we all learned a bit about the process. No information regarding the process was available prior to the Public Meeting not even in the Township’s own files. As your President I attended at the Township office on the morning of the Public Meeting and read the one and only report in their file, a site evaluation report which addresses natural heritage matters which I suspect is the least of the adjacent property owners concern.

We are all concerned with odour, noise, dust, and truck traffic. The plant will process by pyrolysis, 100 tonnes of sawdust down to 25 tonnes of biochar. The other 75 tonnes goes out the smoke stack. 

To read the full Update – click here

To read the DSLPOA submission – click here

To view a copy of the Echo article – click here

The Drag and Spruce Lakes Property Owners Association has become aware of a re-zoning application to build a biochar plant on Kennaway road close to the intersection of Jones road.  Details are pretty sketchy so far and we are trying to get more information. We have written Pat Martin, the planner for the Township regarding the application and received the following in response to our request;

“I suggest that you, or a representative of your lake association, attend the public meeting so that you can ask questions directly to the applicant.  They have submitted a site evaluation report and you are welcome to visit the Municipal office and review this report.  Please call beforehand so that I can ensure that there is staff available to assist you and room for you to review the material.  The applicants are working with MOECC on the required approvals and they will be able to update you on the status of these approvals at the November 7th, meeting.  Copies of the Notice of the Public Meeting can be found at the following link:

https://www.dysartetal.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/November-7-2016.pdf”

The fact that the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Preserve are working with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) may imply that they require approval for a waste processing site and/or air emissions.  This may be particularly troublesome.

“ Biochar Is a Soil Amendment. This 2,000 year-old practice converts agricultural waste into a soil enhancer that can hold carbon, boost food security, and increase soil biodiversity, and discourage deforestation.” – for more info click here

We urge you to attend the Public Meeting at the Township office on Monday November 7, 2016 at 5:00 PM.

Grounded at Blueberry Island beach: