Chatham-Kent Municipal Council has decided to increase water and wastewater fees for new greenhouse facilities. This could lead to a significant increase in the cost of greenhouse construction and a decrease in economic activity in the region.
Greg Devries, manager of Truly Green, a diversified farm, reported the creation of more than 3,000 jobs on 473 acres. Local businesses such as Honey Electric, Dordt and Timbertech Construction are also actively involved in the development of the greenhouse industry.
However, George Dekker, a representative of Mucci Farms, noted that greenhouses try to minimize their impact on municipal infrastructure. They use alternative water sources such as wells and ponds to collect rainwater.
The City of Chatham-Kent has changed its bylaws to provide incentives for farmers who choose to access private water and sewerage services.
Richard Lee, Executive Director of OGVG, emphasized the importance of greenhouse development for the region’s economy, employment and food security. However, now municipal authorities have announced their intention to limit the growth of greenhouse farming in the future.
Thus, increases in water and wastewater prices could have a negative impact on the development of greenhouse farming in Chatham-Kent and lead to a decline in the economic contribution of this sector to the region.
