Stop the Strada Blast Quarry…

Stop the Strada Blast Quarry!
There are so many environmental risk not only for us today, but for future generations to come. The risks are immeasurable and clearly outlined:

THE  BLAST QUARRY RISK LIST
Water: 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 on which we all depend. As Melancthon is the headwaters for three major river systems, contamination will flow in all directions to neighbouring communities and water systems.
Health and Safety Risks: Blasting at quarries produces hazardous silica dust and airborne pollutants, posing severe respiratory risks to all residents, workers, and children. The noise, vibrations and fly rock from blasting threaten the safety of everyone outside as well as the calm we now enjoy.
Environmental Impact: The proposed quarry would irreversibly scar our landscape, destroy wildlife habitats and destroy endangered species. The related increases in truck traffic and industrial activity will further degrade air and water quality, endangering both local ecosystems and agricultural lands.
Traffic and Commuting: Commuting patterns will be severely impacted for those travelling for work as an estimated sixty-five forty-ton gravel trucks per hour will pass through a single choke point at Masonville. Regular and recreational travelers northbound and southbound will be impacted.
Community Well-being: The community’s rural character, natural beauty, and possible emerging economies such as tourism are all at risk.  Introducing a blast quarry undermines our vision for sustainable growth and the enjoyment of a naturally healthy environment by current and future generations. Long-term homeowners will leave. Newcomers will be scarce.
Lack of Transparency and Consultation: Residents and local First Nations have not been properly consulted. There has been insufficient public engagement in the development of this proposal as it was filed without the agreement of the independent community reviewer who has since been terminated.  No impact studies have yet been made available to support community understanding.
Economic Burden: The costs of road repairs, drainage, and other remedial activities caused by quarry operations are unfairly borne by taxpayers, while the long- term value of our community is diminished. There is no financial benefit to our community. Property values will drop.
No Need for Aggregates: At present there are enough licensed quarries in Ontario to supply industry for a very long time – some say as much as 30 years. This blast quarry is not needed for local supply or supply in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Has the government forgotten that the "mega quarry" in Melancthon was stopped back in 2012 through the efforts of the Stop the Mega Quarry campaign, which successfully pressured the government and the applicant, Highland Companies. Yet, here we are again - fighting for one of the most important resources Mother Earth has to offer us next to oxygen - SAFE and ABUNDANT water.

Have we not learned enough from the legacy of the previous campaign?
Food & Water First! We need to protect our water resources and precious farmland in Ontario.

STOP Strada from taking our natural resources for their own capital gains and save our communities from irreversible and catastrophic damage.

Karen Long