Site preparation has begun on what is to become the home of the Volkswagen EV battery plant.
There are five bush lots to be cleared on the 1,500 acre site, much of which was formally located in Central Elgin.
myFM asked St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston as to whether the city’s tree bylaw will apply for the hundreds of trees removed.
Although thousands of trees are to be cleared from the industrial site, the plan is to replace them with trees planted elsewhere on the property where possible.
Preston tells myFM it is not uncommon for new industrial parks to include wooded areas.
According to the city, the work needs to be completed by March 31 of this year.
Preston says where the battery plant will be located on the property has not been finalized at this time.
The contract for clearing the property was awarded to CLC Tree Service of London.
Written by Ian McCallum
