GREENSTONE—The Municipality of Greenstone has begun an environmental assessment process to create a long-term plan for waste disposal, that will facilitate the engagement of the community, Indigenous groups and organizations in the region.
The fundamental purpose of these public open sessions is to evaluate alternatives for waste management and disposal, to identify a preferred system in order to do this and to select a preferred site.
In a recent interview, Greenstone Mayor Renald Beaulieu, explained further the purpose of this environmental assessment and outlined the process, while identifying key partners involved.
“Looking at this, be it a recycling depot, a landfill site, multiple landfills, at this time this is a blank thing,” said Beaulieu. “Right now, it is hard at this time to give an indication as to where a preferred site will be as we don’t have this,” added Beaulieu. “These public hearings are to encourage the public to get involved and attend their scheduled public sessions. We are looking for community input,” added Beaulieu.
In terms of whether the Municipality has to follow a timeline for this environmental assessment, the mayor highlighted the fact that these public sessions and the engagement of key partners is crucial in order to move forward with this the best way that the Municipality can.
“We are looking at feedback and how to move forward once this study is completed and submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, to review. This is scheduled for early 2024, but the timeline may change, should we have issues such as: When will a new land fill open? What is the preferred solution? What will this look like? So, the present time line might change,” explained Mayor Beaulieu.
Most important too for Greenstone’s mayor, is that the public, the media, and the government know that throughout this process and from its onset, all key partners, in particular their First Nations partners have been involved in this whole process from the beginning.
“We should mention these public open houses within the region are also meant to ensure that the results that we are looking to get from these open sessions, is also to engage our First Nations to be involved in the whole process working on this together,” said Beaulieu. “We have been working together for years and we have had representation from all our First Nations in the region, for at least the past three years,” added the mayor.
To help with their Waste Management Environmental Assessment the Municipality has hired the services of KGS Group, who the mayor described as consultants who specialize in public information sessions. In Beaulieu’s opinion, having KGS Group involved is important so that the Municipality of Greenstone is able to follow a suitable process and send the government the message that they are ready to do this right.
“We have hired KGS Group. They are consultants that specialize in public information sessions. It is also important to conduct and follow an important process and let the province know this; and that we are on time for this landfill site to be developed and will be ready to do this right,” stated Beaulieu.
Each of the public open information sessions are scheduled for each of the communities in the region as follows:
- Longlac – November 7 Longlac Sportsplex 200 Picnic Point Road 3-7pm
- Nakina – November 8 Nakina Community Centre 206 North Ave 3-7pm
- Geraldton - November 9 Geraldton Community Centre 200 Wardrope Ave 3-7 pm
- Beardmore – November 10 100 Main St 3-7 pm
The Municipality of Greenstone knows that a long-term solution for the management of waste is needed for the region. It also knows that input from all key partners, First Nations, organizations, and the community, is what will best provide them with the guidance that they are looking for.
