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As we wait to see whether Minister Flack will approve Picton Terminals’ MZO, I can’t help wondering how Council came to create the Settlement Agreement that offered such a thing.
We will never know as we never received any sort of response or rationale to explain why a slim majority of councillors thought a container port and rock quarry on Picton Bay was a good idea.
Apparently, some councillors voted for the Settlement Agreement because they were sure the province would turn it down. Some thought bringing shipping back to Picton Bay was a good thing because it used to be a large shipping port. Well, most of us realize that just because we used to do something in the past does not always make it a good reason to do it now.
Ultimately, Council was trying to avoid a legal bill that could have been paid by upholding its bylaws and collecting fines for non-compliance.
As it stands, there is no revenue coming to the County. It will not provide a significant number of jobs. No one has ever told us why they thought it was a good idea — except that we used to be a large shipping port.
What it will do is replace about 86 acres of rural farmland, and a series of historic farmhouses, with a quarry and container storage. It has caused and will continue to cause insurmountable stress to those who have already been forced to sell and relocate.
It will ruin the lives of hundreds of people directly affected by the quarry noise, the 24-7 clanging of containers being loaded and unloaded, and the dock lighting at Picton Terminals shining at all hours of the night. All due to the total disregard from Doornekamp for neighbours and community.
As the container ship volume increases it will no doubt have a further negative effect on the water quality. We have a broken water system in Picton. It is the only source of water for over 7,000 people and will be for the forseeable future.
The County Conservancy has asked several times to see the MZO application submitted by the County. It has never been provided. We can only imagine that it included much of the same non-enforceable rhetoric the Settlement Agreement contained.
The final MZO decision is out of our hands and will be determined by Minister Flack. What we can do now is work on having the Council members noted above replaced with leaders that have a positive, healthy vision for the County. We need some intelligent visionaries. Councillors that will not buy into Ben Doornekamp’s vision of Picton Bay becoming the next Hamilton. Councillors that will vote with their conscience and represent their constituents.
If the MZO is approved, our problems will have only just begun.
Leslie Stewart, The County Conservancy
Ben O’Brien’s deft hand can be seen throughout PEC in municipal and private spaces. His compnay, WILD BY DESIGN, and beautiful designs and plantings, were featured in the Spring 2025 issue of Watershed. Now Ben is being recognized internationally. While the general population will be forgiven for not knowing about the PPA, the Professional Plant Association, and its annual national symposium, held this year in Des Moines, Iowa, Ben was recognized there as the Emerging Perennial Professional of the Year.
That won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has worked with Ben, and who delights in his vision and skill at bringing beauty to every patch or expanse of land that he encounters.
Valerie Hussey, Toronto and Picton
As I read about the very real possibility of industrial expansion and quarrying on top of our drinking water supply the French word époustouflant comes to mind. That is to say, it’s mind boggling. I am flabbergasted. When our water supply is contaminated there will be hell to pay and it will be too late.
Martha Peterson, Picton
I congratulate Jason Parks (Lifeguards Required, Editorial, August 6) on calling for lifeguards and enhanced rescue response capability along the County’s shores.
Writing about his own close call when a friend drowned was brave and made his message compelling.
I hope the province is listening given this summer’s toll.
JC Sulzenko, South Marysburgh
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