Subject: Concern About…

Subject: Concern About Strada Aggregates Water-Taking Application (ERO 025-1082)

Dear Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks,

I’m writing as a resident who’s very worried about Strada Aggregates’ request to take water for its proposed quarry in Melancthon. I don’t believe this application should be reviewed on its own. The water-taking and the quarry are part of the same project, and it only makes sense that they be looked at together.

Considering them separately hides the real impact on our land, water, and community. It also makes people lose faith that the process is fair and transparent.

A few things stand out to me:
• The quarry can’t operate without this water-taking permit, so treating them as two separate issues just doesn’t make sense.
• Five million litres a day — every day — is a huge amount of water, especially in a rural area where farms and families depend on wells.
• There doesn’t seem to be a clear plan for public reporting or for checking how this will affect local water sources or wetlands.
• Having two separate comment periods makes it almost impossible for residents to get the full picture or respond properly.
• If this permit moves forward now, it sends a message that big companies can break their projects into pieces to avoid full review.
• With longer dry spells and less predictable weather because of climate change, we should be protecting our water more carefully than ever.

Ontario’s land and water are some of our most valuable resources. I hope the ministry will step back, pause this application, and require a combined review of both the quarry and the water-taking — with clear information and independent oversight.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns.

Sincerely,
A Concerned Local Resident