The Ball's Bridge & Little Lakes area is under threat by Lobo Sand and Gravel/ Van Bree Enterprises.  A license application for a "below the water table" industrial aggregate mining operation was posted on the Little Lakes property in May 2021. Cradled by a loop in the Menesetung river, this precious swath of land passes from Londesborough Road through to Little Lakes Road and is surrounded by woodland that is designated in the township of ACW (Ashfield Colborne Wawanosh) official plan as both "provincially and locally significant" as well as "significant wildlife habitat”.

Over 3 million square feet of prime agricultural land is at risk, entire species could disappear, and old growth forest could be replaced by a sterile gravel pit — impacting the aquifer, the Menesetung river and its watershed including Lake Huron, neighbouring woodland and wildlife corridors, and the surrounding irreplaceable ecology.

Just 200 meters downwind is the Historic Ball's Bridge, an Ontario Heritage Trust site,  The bridge is the heart of this area beloved by the local community, as well as a wider community of dream seekers, wanderers, families, lovers, artists, photographers, hikers, cyclists, bikers, fisher people, kayakers, rafters, birders and other nature lovers.  Ball’s Bridge was saved by "Friends of Ball's Bridge" 15 years ago with support from all levels of government and granted a "Cultural Heritage Landscape" Award.  It is now in danger of devaluation from the mining operation. 

We are asking for the township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW) to NOT change the current zoning from Natural Environment and Agricultural to Aggregate.

We are asking the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) to NOT issue a license for aggregate extraction, based on the many concerns about its environmental and cultural impact, and the outpouring of support from hundreds of people who value this area.

We are demanding an Environmental Assessment of the Ball's Bridge and Little Lakes Area by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

By signing this petition you are helping us convince your elected officials in all levels of government to say NO to this pit.