Quarry Expansion

NS: Municipal Enterprises faces backlash over quarry expansion
By Christy Marsters, Transcontinental Media

Source: The Hants Journal, May 26, 2010

[HANTS CO., NS] — Earlier this year, Panuke Road residents received notification of a proposed extension of a nearby quarry.

Municipal Enterprises Limited plans to combine the existing Panuke Quarry with the operations of a Hants County Aggregates Quarry Project increasing the size of the existing four-hectare quarry to nearly 14 hectares.

Municipal Enterprises’ David Clifton says the desired extension will begin, “as needed, upon approval.”

He says measures to protect the environment and community around Panuke Road will be taken “as required by environment department and as need arises.”


Panuke Quarry — Hants Journal Photo

According to a project information sheet provided by Municipal Enterprises, an environmental registration document — currently being prepared by environment consulting firm Stantec Consulting — will minimize the environmental effects of the project with appropriate mitigation and monitoring.

Elements to be evaluated in this document include: surface water resources; rare and sensitive flora; wetlands; groundwater resources; socio–economic environment; archaeological and heritage resources; wildlife; atmospheric environment, including considerations of dust and noise.

Panuke Road resident Garth Hazel says safety and lifestyle are already being interrupted by these quarries.

The community has put up with the noise, dust, dirt, fumes, trucks and pollution long enough, Hazel says.

“I do not think it should be allowed to continue unless [concerns] are addressed.”

There are no sidewalks on the shoulders of the narrow road, half paved and half dirt, he says. “I can’t open my window without dust and fumes from the trucks getting in.”

At one time, the road handled only local traffic and, occasionally, people going back and forth to the lake, Hazel adds.

“I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else , but, with all of these trucks going now, I might as well live in Halifax.”

Watershed protection should be considered a concern as well, he says.

“As of now, the water is fine but over time pollution builds up and we are going to have to have to pay for it in the end.”

At Panuke Road Recreation Park, not far from Panuke Quarry, there is a basketball court, a baseball field and a small playground.

Nobody wants kids traveling up and down the road though… it’s so dangerous, Hazel says. “From 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. trucks and trailers are constantly hauling. It’s driving the values of our homes down and down.”

A petition with over 200 names on it proves a high percentage of residents don’t want the quarries expanded, Hazel adds.

“Nobody, in any other community, would accept it. There’s been no consideration for people living in this area.”

Warden Richard Dauphinee says a letter was sent off to the Minister of Environment, shortly after April 13, to address safety issues on Panuke Road.

These properties are on a narrow street and a lot of the buildings are set close to the road, Dauphinee says.

“We could set up an area rate, but then they’d end up paying for their sidewalks and that’s not really fair,” he says.

“The municipality is trying to represent the people and I’ll take their side on this issue. It is up to the provincial government to do something here; it’s just getting worse and worse.”

A liaison committee should be established between the company and community, to improve communications, he says.

“It’s frustrating. The residents just want somebody to talk to.”