Springfield welcomes peat moss plant despite opposition
Advertisement
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/07/2020 (1786 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The RM of Springfield mayor is welcoming a peat moss processing plant, despite some local opposition.
Berger Peat Moss Ltd. is a Quebec-based company that intends to build a peat moss processing plant on a former equestrian property near Oakbank. Peat is mined in facilities in Deer Lake and Hadashville, and the plan is to truck the material to the RM of Springfield. The purpose of the plant would be to finish processing and packaging the material.
Two different types of products would be manufactured at the plant. One would be raw peat and the other peat mixed with different additives.
RM of Springfield Mayor Tiffany Fell said an application is subject to permits to be agreed to administratively by the RM, rather than in council. At this point, Fell said, the province is largely responsible for matters relating to the project, such as an environmental assessment.
A development permit and building permit were obtained earlier this year.
“One of the big drivers of this council is economic development,” Fell said, adding Berger could create 50 new jobs during a pandemic.
The Winnipeg-based Manitoba Eco-Network raised concerns in a July 13 document including a lack of public consultative meetings. Berger’s application said the meetings were delayed due to pandemic precaution. The eco-network requested a Clean Environment Commission public hearing and an environmental impact statement.
Resident Darryl Speer said such a plant ought to have a more robust public hearing process in which residents can voice concerns and opposition. Speer said the public consultation consisted of one meeting on July 21, and said Berger didn’t have their environment act proposal in hand to answer questions.
The eco-network also raised concerns about “cumulative impacts” leading to stresses on the aquifer. Fell said two studies have been conducted over five-and-a-half years regarding the aquifer, and said there’s an abundance of water in Springfield and aquifers aren’t near capacity.