The Town of Newmarket and the provincial government are working to rectify the cause of a concrete leak onto the Tom Taylor Trail this week.
Concrete from nearby Canada Building Materials (CBM) on Mulock Drive poured onto the trail off and into the bordering waterway, prompting the town to block off a portion of the trail Nov. 6. The municipality proceeded to notify the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks and Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority about the discharge.
Newmarket resident Alexander Brill came upon the leak Nov. 5 and notified the municipality.
“It’s just a complete mess down there. I’m hoping it gets resolved,” she said. “Don’t appreciate having to put my dog or myself through that mess.”
CBM provides ready-mix concrete from its longtime Newmarket location.
Community services commissioner Jeff Payne said the town was notified of the discharge and contacted both the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. He said CBM Concrete is working to rectify the situation.
"The town has been and will continue to closely monitor the issue, while investigating options focused on CBM Concrete arriving at a permanent solution,” Payne said.
The ministry said it takes all spills and threats to the environment very seriously. It said it observed the spill of concrete slurry and assessed the area Nov. 6 and 7, but did not observe any impacts on fish.
“While the exact quantity is unknown, approximately one cubic metre of sediment from the spill settled in the water,” the ministry said. “The ministry has required the company to clean up the spill to prevent any additional slurry from entering the river. No additional cleanup is required at this time.”
NewmarketToday did not receive a reply to a request for comment from CBM Concrete before publication deadline.
Brill said she frequents the area of the trail. She said it is not the first time concrete has leaked from the facility and there should be repercussions.
“The company needs to get fined or held accountable in some way,” Brill said.
