Stop the Blast Quarry ..Melanchthon Fights Quarries

We, the undersigned residents and concerned citizens, urgently call upon all levels of government to take every measure within their power to halt the licensing, approval and construction of the Strada’s below the water table Blast Quarry in Melancthon. Operations on the proposed Quarry could last 50 years. Over that time our communities future will be irrevocably damaged.

Our concerns are as follows:

Blasting below the water table produces incalculable risks to the supply of pure local water that is essential for our personal use and for the agriculture at the heart of our community.  As Melancthon is the headwaters for 4 major river systems, any contamination will flow downstream in all directions to neighbouring communities and lakes.
The risks are untested, and the potential consequences for local households could be both severe and irreversible 

Frequent blasting operations increase the risk of structural damage to nearby homes and infrastructure. The release of hazardous silica dust and airborne pollutants, pose severe respiratory risks to all residents, workers and children. The noise, vibrations and flying rock from blasting threatens the safety of everyone and causes both physical and mental strain on residents.

A high-volume quarry with an estimated 65, forty-ton gravel trucks per hour that will pass through a single choke point at hwy 124 and county road 17. This is a dramatic increase in truck traffic on rural roads never designed for industrial transport. This surge in heavy vehicle use raises the risk of accidents, increases road maintenance costs for local taxpayers, and fundamentally alters the rural character of the area.

There has been a Lack of Transparency and Consultation as residents and local First Nations have not been properly consulted. There has been insufficient public engagement in the development of this proposal. It was filed without the agreement of the independent community reviewer who has since been terminated and no impact studies have yet been made available to support community understanding.

At present there is no need for new Aggregate or Aggregate expansions as there are enough licensed Quarries in Ontario to supply Industry for a very long time-some say as much as 30 years. The Blast Quarry is not needed!
If this can happen here it can happen at any quarry in Ontario.

We therefore respectfully demand

An immediate halt to all planning, zoning, licensing, permitting and construction activities related to Strada Blast Quarry

The denial of any applications to extract aggregate below the water table or operate processing facilities at the proposed site.

The preparation and public review of an aggregate plan for our area that properly assesses when, where and how any truly essential aggregate activity can be conducted with the least harm to communities

Permanent protection of the proposed site as conservation and agricultural land, ensuring the well- being of residents, the environment and future generations

We urge you to use all available legal, regulatory and policy tools - including zoning bylaws-environmental protection statutes and licensing authorities- to protect our community from the irreversible harm of a blast quarry

Please sign to stand united in opposition to the Strada Blast Quarry expansion

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Melancthon Against Quarries