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Moving dirt from one place to the other takes a lot of planning. We're talking a lot about it for good reason! Sarah is back for a second week standing in for our magnanimous host Mike who will return next week with more great information about the project!
Today though, watch some of the big equipment in motion and learn about why this process is so key to the overall success and sustainability of the project. Progress is being made as work recently entered the Phase 2 area!
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We've got a guest host today and are learning about a few of the Geotechnical elements that a project like this requires and taking an inside look at a Plate Load Test! And no, that isn't seeing how high you can pile your plate at a buffet!
Thanks for joining us From the Beehive! Before a piece of construction equipment can get rolling on a site like ours, there are many steps to take. There has been involvement from so many incredibly knowledgeable individuals and institutions along the way, from ensuring the environmental well-being of our region to future planning for infrastructure and more - you could say it takes a village to bring all the necessary pieces of the puzzle together.
We are thankful for the incredible partnerships that have been forged along the way and look forward to continued conversation and more than a little hard work, side-by-side, as the project continues. And an extra big thank you to all the folks tuning in for updates and information about the project - we know there are still lots of questions to be answered, and we look forward to bringing you more episodes of From the Beehive throughout the construction of the Volkswagen Battery Facility and development of the region along the way too. So stay tuned, like and subscribe! To celebrate 10 Episodes of From the Beehive, we've got some time lapse views for you to enjoy to take in the progress at the proposed industrial development site. Thanks for coming along for the journey with us so far - we hope it's been an opportunity to learn about the process of prepping a site for a development of this nature. If you've enjoyed the series so far, and want these videos direct in your inbox each week - you can subscribe here right on this page if you haven't already. If you have questions or topic suggestions that you'd like to see as part of the series, drop us a suggestion below.
Sometimes it may seem like we are on another planet on site with the huge earth movers. And it sure feels of a magnitude that can be seen from space! But our visitors (this time) joined us from the Provincial Government - Premier Doug Ford, Vic Fideli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade of Ontario, Kinga Surma, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure, MPP Rob Flack, and our own Mayor Joe Preston. Come along for more information on the visit!
To the average person, it may not look like much is happening onsite at the proposed industrial park in St. Thomas, Ontario - but crews are hard at work making the grade! In today's episode, Mike takes us through the process currently in motion grading the site. It's a foundational step in ensuring that the facility constructed has solid footing. It's an interesting view of the different pieces of equipment being utilized and their important roles to get the job done right!
These are the drones we are looking for!
Drones have become an essential tool on a construction site - especially one of this magnitude! On today's episode, we connect with Harold Scheffel, the Geospatial Technical Manager with Arcadis Canada to learn a bit about what he does with the drones on-site to support the construction process at the proposed industrial development. Thanks for joining us this week! Kelly Gostick joins us today at the Beehive (remember that's old slang for a railway yard office and a fun name for our field office at the proposed industrial development site!) to fill us in on what archaeological work has happened and continues on-site. We hope to get Mike out in the field for a more detailed update with Kelly soon!
Archaeological assessments must be carried out by licensed archaeologists and are required when the land has either: - a known archaeological site - the potential to have archaeological sites Stages of an assessment During the first three stages, the consultant archaeologist will:
Not all stages will be necessary for all projects. Stage 1: background study and property inspection The archaeologist determines whether there is potential for archaeological sites on the property. They review geographic, land use and historical information for the property and the relevant surrounding area, visit the property to inspect its current condition and contact the ministry to find out if there are any known archaeological sites on or near the property. A Stage 2 assessment is required when the consultant archaeologist identifies areas of archaeological potential. Stage 2: property assessment The archaeologist surveys the land to identify any archaeological resources on the property. For a ploughed field, they will walk back and forth over it looking for artifacts on the surface. In forests, overgrown pasture areas or any other places that cannot be ploughed, they will dig parallel rows of small holes, called test pits, down to sterile subsoil at regular intervals and sift the soil to look for artifacts. They may use other strategies if properties are paved, covered in fill or have deeply buried former topsoils (such as floodplains or former sand dunes). The archaeologist will determine whether any archaeological resources found are of sufficient cultural heritage value or interest to require Stage 3 assessment. Stage 3: site-specific assessment The consultant archaeologist determines the dimensions of the archaeological site, evaluates its cultural heritage value or interest and, where necessary, makes recommendations for Stage 4 mitigation strategies. To this end, they conduct further background research and fieldwork that expands the information gathered in Stage 2. They map the spatial limits of a site and acquire further information about the site's characteristics by excavating one-metre by one-metre square test units across the site. Based on circumstances, some sites (for example, ones that have been paved or are deeply buried) may require specialized methods of assessment. The archaeologist will determine whether any archaeological sites have sufficient cultural heritage value or interest to require Stage 4 mitigation of development impacts. Stage 4: mitigation of development impacts This stage involves implementing conservation strategies for archaeological sites. Determining the best approach for conserving the site may include reviewing possible strategies with the development proponent, the municipality or other approval authority, Indigenous communities, and other heritage stakeholders. Conserving archaeological sites does not mean stopping development. Conservation can involve putting long-term protection measures in place around an archaeological site to protect it intact. The site is then avoided while development proceeds around it. This is called protection in situ and is always the preferred option for mitigation of development impacts to a site. If protection is not viable, mitigation can involve documenting and completely excavating an archaeological site before development takes place. Long-term avoidance and protection Unless long-term protection measures are in place, an archaeological site is not considered truly protected. The archaeologist will recommend an avoidance and long-term protection strategy. Ontario's Heritage Tool Kit outlines long-term protection measures, such as:
If circumstances do not allow a site to be protected in situ, the site may be excavated before construction begins. The purpose of excavation is to remove artifacts while documenting the site through measurements, maps, drawings and photographs. Source: https://www.ontario.ca/page/archaeological-assessments Construction of a site of any magnitude is a process that requires a certain amount of staging. When dealing with a mega-site, staging is an even more delicate process that requires some temporary site infrastructure.
In today's episode, Mike touches on grading, water drainage, and storm water management ponds or SWM (swim) ponds. These are temporary SWM ponds. They act in conjunction with other erosion and Sediment Control features like silt fences and straw bales to lower the velocity and suspend solids from rain events. These temporary SWM ponds are located around the site at the low points in drainage areas. Once the new road network is built, they will be replaced with larger permanent ponds and storm sewers in 2025. The permanent SWM pond locations are shown in blue on the site plan. This is a very exciting episode exploring the site plan for the proposed industrial subdivision! In this episode, Mike explores the site plan and highlights some of the incredible features designed to facilitate effective operations within the subdivision - from electrical needs to rail access, roadways & roundabouts.
Catch the Jumbo reference? An interesting fact we learned is that elephants drink anywhere from 68-98 litres per day - had Jumbo lived a much longer life, far exceeding any reasonable lifespan for an Elephant - he still could not have consumed remotely close to 55 mega litres if was still alive today. If you are new to Jumbo's Story, you can learn more here. |
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