Ojibwa Landing finally inching toward development: report

A human health risk assessment report for Ojibwa Landing in Penetanguishene was released recently, with the conclusion that once all recommended measures were implemented the site would be considered protective of human and ecological populations potentially exposed to contaminants.

The report was presented at the transportation and environmental services section of the recent committee of the whole meeting, and was praised as the culmination of years of efforts on the 20-acre waterfront brownfield site at 111 Robert Street West.

A phase one environmental site assessment was undertaken in 2013, identifying potential contaminants. In 2017, a human and ecological health risk assessment began when the town received $50,000 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities through its Green Municipal Fund grant.

According to the town, petroleum-related contaminants were believed to have been introduced by landowners British American Oil Co. Ltd., as three 12,000 gallon oil tanks – typically associated with products ranging from gasoline and heating oil to lubricants and hydraulic oil – had been stored on-site in the 1940s.

The risk assessment report from EXP Services Inc. preceded a record of site condition which would be filed and obtained upon council’s approval of the report.

Section chair Coun. Suzanne Marchand called it a “great report” that was lengthy and extensive, and called upon public works and engineering director Bryan Murray to provide an overview.

“It was a Tier 3 risk assessment under the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks risk assessment process; that’s the highest, most complex risk assessment tier that they provide,” Murray explained. 

As council had designated the land use for broad development to allow for residential, commercial and open space when it’s ready to proceed, Murray said that the risk assessment report provided the “very detailed engineering controls” required “to protect human health and ecological health, depending on: what structure is built; whether there is a hard-cap cover; parking lot areas; vapour mitigation system”.

Also included in the recommendations within the report’s conclusions were special considerations for groundwater standards, required if the maximum groundwater COC (contaminants of concern) concentrations exceeded half of their solubility limits.

Murray added that following the environmental review and successful application for the record of site condition, which he hoped would happen in the fall, the town would be allowed to develop the property according to a master planning process next year.

Mayor Doug Rawson spoke on the matter, thanking staff for the work done and for answering questions he had pre-planned.

“This is probably three council terms that this has been going on,” said Rawson. “A lot of work, a lot of engineers, a lot of detail in this.”

Rawson added that Murray was instrumental at the 2023 Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference where Penetanguishene representatives addressed the site as a potential solution to housing challenges, and to mitigate timelines on the site.

“Last year, you (Murray) provided expert information to myself and the Deputy Mayor (Dan La Rose) and CAO (Jeff Lees) where we delegated this at AMO,” said Rawson. “My understanding is there was back-and forth, and that the window has taken a long time and it was stalled… my understanding is that it helped to expedite that process there after AMO.”

The committee of the whole approved the report and its recommendations.

The 835-page Ojibwa Landing ecological and human health risk assessment report and summary can be located on the agenda page of the Town of Penetanguishene website.

Meetings of Penetanguishene council are held on the second Wednesday of each month, and can be watched live on Rogers TV cable 53 when available, or on the Rogers TV website.

Archives of council meetings are located on the Town of Penetanguishene YouTube channel.