Orillia Matters, June 26, 2025, Letter to the Editor by Barbara Sternberg, Ramara Township

Ramara 'already over-mined' by quarries, "Surely, the welfare of citizens ... should be the priority of Ramara council,"

A public hearing was held on Monday, June 23 at the Ramara Township council chamber to hear from the applicant LCP Quarry and allow the public to offer comments or ask questions of the quarry representative and  of council — these in addition to already submitted written comments.

The quarry representative went through the plans for the quarry, where it would be located, the tonnage to be extracted, the provincial guidelines regarding safety of groundwater and wells, the blast noise guidelines, etc. However, as was pointed out, there are not sufficient inspectors to monitor infractions, though LCP thinks the ministry plans to hire and train more — maybe. And the guideline levels for noise and blast vibrations set by the ministry do not reflect the experience of those who actually live here — not in Ottawa.

Other assurances about well water were vague: If a citizen wants their well levels monitored, they need only ask LCP, and if LCP decides you are in “their area,” which, at the moment, is undefined, then the quarry might monitor your well to see if it is adversely affected.

The quarry is a below-water quarry and as such will be pumping water as they excavate. One Lakeshore Drive resident asked where this pumped water will go. We already experience flooding in heavy rains, and all water runs down towards the lake. Mayor Basil Clarke said that this will be “looked into.”

Anna Bourgeois, speaking on behalf of Concerned Citizens of Ramara, asked some very pertinent questions: In the reality of lack of provincial inspectors, will the township commit to monitoring? With Lafarge and James Dick quarries on either side of LCP’s site, neither of which is at full capacity, why another quarry? LCP promises rehabilitation in the form of a lake at some future date, but, like we’ve seen with other quarries in the region, what’s to prevent LCP from seeking a licence amendment to accept questionable soils and materials in the future? This farmland also sits atop a highly vulnerable aquifer, compounding the risk. Where are the cumulative impact studies that examine the long-term effects on water systems?

Judy Mitchell-Wilson, on behalf of the Concerned Lakeshore Ratepayers Group, also raised questions regarding public safety and blasting: Can council confirm whether the township has emergency protocols or liability protections in place in the event that flyrock or blasting impacts a residential area? This question was answered by Fire Chief Tony Stong. No, no emergency measures are in place. And, would council consider passing an interim control bylaw to pause this decision for one year while an outstanding review and public consultation are completed, especially given the scale of the quarry and proximity to Brechin Village?

All in all, I don’t see what difference it makes whether LCP will run its quarry properly according to ministry rules or not (rules which try to mitigate and control a process deleterious in every way to the environment and healthy living). As I see it, the only relevant question is: Why allow another quarry in this area at all? We are already over-mined. Surely, the welfare of citizens — their health and quality of life — and the welfare of the land and all it supports, preserving farmland, wetlands, meadows, should be the priority of Ramara council and form the basis of their decision. After all, they are the elected representatives of the citizens of Brechin and Ramara — not of LCP Quarry.

The quarry estimates its life at 50 years — 50 years of digging up land that is then gone forever. This is no small decision.