"For us it would be the worst thing that could ever happen unless they could give us a couple of acres to make into a park or something, to get away from the smell," said Susie Kelly, owner of Susie Q's.

Walker Industries is making the bid to put up the anaerobic compost facility on the southwest corner of County Road 27 and the 3rd Line, in the hamlet of Dunkerron. Walker Industries is based in the Niagara region, but one of its biggest customers is Hermanns Contracting Limited, located at the 2nd Line and County Road 27.

At the start of the compost production, Walker Industries said it would initially compost 20,000 tonnes of waste a year, growing up to 40,000.

Information Walker's has been circulating to area residents says the facility is "designed to solve both Simcoe County's compost crunch, and meet the compost needs of local landscaping companies."

However, Simcoe County contracts and collections supervisor Willma Bureau said the county organic waste is being processed at a Hamilton facility. That contract is for at least five years.

Walker Industries organics division general manager Mike Deprez said it could be a year or two before the site is in production. That would allow the company time to garner interest for future contracts with the county.

Simcoe County starting an organic collection is the reason why Walker Industries is interested in Bradford-West Gwillimbury. Deprez said the site was chosen because it's close to Hermanns Contracting, one of its largest customers from its Niagara site.

Hermanns Contracting Limited president Jorg Hermanns said a composting site would absolutely benefit his business.

"The property is in a fantastic location, it's close to us and it's going to be a beautiful landscape," said Hermanns.

Also, he said Hermanns Contracting uses 50,000 cubic yards of compost a year, the equivalent of 5,000 dump trucks. By having a facility nearby he said some of that truck traffic would come off the highways.

Hermanns Realco currently owns the 80-acre property Walker Industries is looking to set up on. Hermanns said it hasn't been decided if the land would be leased or sold to Walker Industries.

Kelly's chip stand is on an acre of land at the corner of the lot in question. She opened the business six years ago and is planning to open a restaurant on the same lot in a couple of months. The property has been home to several businesses through the years, most recently it was the Cave restaurant and before that, Ilse's Country Kitchen.

"We're going to be affected big time," said Kelly.

Kelly's neighbours, and residents along County Road 27 share concerns about a compost facility going up in their backyard.

The bulk of the concerns centre on increased truck traffic, smell, rodents, and the value of their houses going down.

Walker Industries has been visiting residents' homes to inform them of the compost site. For people not at home, Deprez said information pamphlets have been left behind.

Residents said information they've been receiving from Walker Industries is doing little to satisfy their concerns though.

Connie Hughes' family has been on County Road 27 since 1828. She said many of the residents' history with the rural living is similar.

"We're out in the country for peaceful living and agriculture," said Hughes.

She said that quality of life is already compromised with Hermanns Contracting's work. Hughes said there are often back-up beepers tailgates banging and lights on as early as 5 a.m.

Marilyn Jacobs lives directly across the road from the property, on the north side of the 3rd Line. She bought the half-acre property 30 years ago because her father owned the farm next door.

"You're not going to want your grandchildren out playing on the lawn when you have compost blowing onto it," said Jacobs.

Gary O'Brien, who owns a 50-acre farm on County Road 27 north of where the proposed site is, questions why cresting farmland is being used.

"Why are they going to ruin it with this?" he asked.

Deprez said these concerns, and more, are the types of things that will be addressed with the Community Liaison Committee that is being set up. Also, there is a community barbecue this Sat., Sept. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Walker Industries contract hasn't come before Bradford-West Gwillimbury council yet. Deprez said they are in the process of gathering information and getting Ministry of Environment approval.