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Updated December 2011 Mega-Quarry Update We have window signs and flyerson the quarry produced by NDACT in the Sunshine room. Pick them up, spread them around. If you have not already done so, sign one of the postcards asking for a federal environmental review. Leave teh signed card in the Sunshine room, or mail it yourself. (No postage required.) You can also take postcards to gather signatures elsewhere. Remember to bring in your lawn sign for the winter; there will be a lawn sign "launch" event in the spring. Want the newest details? Keep your eye on the NADCT website and try this article from a Ryerson journalism student: http://ryersononline.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/melancthons-farmers-fear-for-their-water/ Updated Sept 7th 2011 Dear Friends, Many people including UCG folks have been working long and hard to ensure that a Quarry that would greatly and negatively impacted our eco system, earth, creatures does not happen. All of the letters, emails, meetings have resulted in some wonderful news. I am forwarding the most recented letter sent forward by Karen Balcom offering this exciting and hope filled message. Statement from Minister of the Environment John Wilkinson Regarding Highland Companies Proposed Quarry in Dufferin County http://news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2011/09/statement-from-minister-of-the-environment-john-wilkinson-regarding-highland-companies-proposed-quar.html> "After careful consideration, the Minister of Natural Resources and I have agreed to bring forward a regulation making Highland Companies subject to the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act. As a result, the company will be required to undertake a comprehensive Environmental Assessment for the proposed quarry in Melancthon Township. Ministry of the Environment officials have thoroughly examined the technical reports which were submitted by the quarry proponents. Based on a review of those reports and because of the unique nature of the Melancthon quarry proposal, I believe a full Environmental Assessment is necessary. The McGuinty government is committed to protecting our water and our environment. Today's decision ensures that a transparent and independent assessment of the environmental impacts of Melancthon quarry proposal will be conducted." Dear Supporters of Unicamp: So many of us have created many memories, friendship and spiritual experiences up at UNICAMP. It appears that UNICAMP and specifically the nature, earth and creatures that inhabitate it, as well as many others in surrounding areas through ripple effects, could be threatened. Please read on and find out what you can do, to practice the principal of taking care of earth. Some of you may have heard that a large company purchased many acres of land in the area surrounding Unicamp - supposedly for potato farming. Opponents to the company's massive land purchase said they were very concerned that the supposed farms were a cover for a massive quarry operation. Turns out they were right! THREE applications for the Quarry (possibly a grave danger to Unicamp's ongoing existence as a wilderness haven), have now been now filed by the Highland Companies. They applied for an area of about 2,300 acres to be extracted, and plan to drill hundreds of feet below the water table. Unicamp's springs and pond may be severely affected or disappear, five major rivers will be affected and thus millions of people in SW Ontario could be impacted. Ellen Papenberg, past president of the Elora-Fergus congregation was present at the local (Melancthon) Council meeting last week when the announcement of the quarry applications were made at the very end of the meeting. Ellen and fellow Unicampers have formed a group called the "Unicamp Stop the Quarry Task Force" and are discussing firming up a good strategy but their Task force is very small and so they are asking for your help. First of all they need knowledgeable legal folks to join or at least being connected to their "Unicamp Stop the Quarry Task Force" very urgently. Please let ellen@wightman.ca know if you have a contact who would be willing to lend a hand (however limited). The following three separate applications have been filed by the Highland Companies: One is an application to the Ministry of Natural Resources for their aggregate license. One is an application to the Township of Melancthon for an Official Plan Amendment. One is an application to the Township of Melancthon for a Zoning Bylaw Amendment. The "Unicamp Stop the Quarry Task Force" only have till Apr 26th to file LEGAL letters of objection with the government. This is where they need legal advice! What they are asking us to do is also come out in great numbers (hopefully at least over 100 from Unicamp) to the 12th of April Public Meeting by Highlands at Horning's Mills Community Hall from 7 - 9 pm. Please keep the evening of APR 12th open!!! Citizens who want to express their opposition to the proposal must write to both the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR District Office, 2285 Nursery Rd. Midhurst, ON LOL 1XO) and the Highland Companies (P.O box 377, Shelburne, ON, LON 1S0) before April 26th to have their views considered during the government review of this application. The Melancthon Mayor & Deputy went to the Minister of Natural Resources.. this did not go well, she basically said (according to the Mayor), " it's your job to get your split community together and you might get a nice golf course out of this! So the mayor wrote Dalton McGuinty and complained about the Minister of Natural Resources remarks and about taking the situation lightly... The "Unicamp Stop the Quarry Task Force" are working to try to figure out how to take action that has true clout. So any suggestions are welcome. They are in contact with the NDACT (North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Task Force who have spearheaded protests all along), and will likely taking action in conjunction with them. From the Highlands application, here are some interesting facts about their likely impact: · 2,400 acre 200 foot below the water table open pit limestone mine in stages · 7,200 plus trucks a day-3,600 in and 3,600 out (300 trucks per HOUR) · DAILY water usage of 600 million litres which equates to the same amount of water that 25% of the entire population of Ontario uses DAILY · 16 pumps operating 24/7 · 365 days a year blasting except on stat holidays A well organized, coordinated letter campaign might be useful, keeping individual letters polite, non-threatening and factual. We do not want letters to be regarded as emotional, unfounded, nonfactual, or even misguided, and we are currently working on some draft text that folks can put into their own letters. According to Ellen “The other shoe has dropped and the problem is here! Enough words -- do think, do contact as many people as you can for April 12, plan to write letters and we need legal advice – especially someone who is involved with land use planning law!” Thanks all.
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