Citizens Against Melrose Quarry

We are a group of concerned citizens from Tyendinaga Township, Ontario, Canada. We need our voices to be heard. We are calling for the protection of our agriculture, the preservation of our environment, and the safeguarding of our quality of life. We are the Citizens Against Melrose Quarry and we promote responsible, sustainable and equitable resource use.

We come from all walks of life - farming, social work, research, nursing, and the arts. Many of our families have been in this community for up to 6 generations. In fact, some of us are farming the same piece of land as our great-great-grandparents.

The environment and our way of life are now under threat, as the current Long’s Quarry wants to double the footprint of extraction, despite numerous concerns and opposition from local residents. Over the past years, the tonnage removed has increased, mining moved below the water table and the current quarry is now estimated to only have 10 years of aggregate remaining. The township has recently rezoned nearby agricultural land for an addition new 63 acre quarry. We do not feel this is a responsible or appropriate location for another quarry, especially with so many residents living in close proximity to the blasting zone. Given the location is next to the hamlets of Melrose and Blessington, this will significantly change the community landscape.

We acknowledge the importance of aggregate. However, we also must state that water is an even more valuable resource. Given the history of Long’s Quarry lack of compliance with environmental protection measures and the fact that the proposed quarry has the potential to double the area currently being drained in the local aquifer, we feel it poses a serious risk to the only water supply available for the surrounding homes and farms.


Our Concerns:

Environmental

- The rural community is totally dependent on wells, digging below the water table will reduce an already low water aquifer, which would negatively impact all homes access to water.
- The effects on Blessington Creek.
- The loss of wildlife habitat. 
- The pollution of our clean air with dust.
- The effects of dust on the surrounding farmland.
- The negative impact on the health and lives of bee population, due to dust. 

Agricultural

- The loss of important farmland, which currently grows Ontario’s produce.
- The effects of dust on the surrounding farmland may negatively impact pollination, crops and other vegetation.
- The reduction of groundwater supplies, negatively impacts farmers ability to provide water to their livestock

Quality of Life

- Breathing quarry dust has been linked to respiratory health conditions.
- The potential changes of well water, which is most households only source of drinking water.
- Increased vibration and noise pollution from blasting.
- Some residents have reported damage to their foundation and in-ground pools, which they believe is related to blasting.
- The loss in property values.
- Township residents may face significant tax increases to already high property taxes in order to repair local roads. The levy paid to the township by the quarry is not enough to cover damage to the roads caused by the dump trucks. 
- We worry about the potential safety concerns resulting from increased heavy truck traffic.
- Quarry related traffic such as dump trucks passes by the local public school
- Another quarry will continue the negative impact on residential and recreational development of our community. 

Our Work to Date and What's Left for Us to Do

Environmental Review Tribunal 2015 – Represented by the Canadian Environmental Law Association, we were successful in having drought conditions included in the conditions of the current Long’s Quarry’s Permits to Take Water. It is a rarely in Ontario to includes such conditions.

ARA Standing Committee 2016 – Two of our members made an verbal submission to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy for Aggregate Resources and Mining Modernization Act. They were successful in having their voices heard and now all water supplies is to be considered in any ARA licensing.

Land Planning Appeal Tribunal 2019 - We have received Participant Status at the upcoming Land Planning Appeal Tribunal and will once again be represented by the Canadian Environmental Law Association.

How You Can Help

- If you are local, consider joining CAMQ!
- Learn more about the negative impact that quarries have on the environmental and local communities.
- Donate! No amount is too small with every dollar helping to cover our legal fees and the cost of expert reports like a blasting study, a dust study, and a traffic report.

Thank you for your time and your support!

For further information,  please visit our website: www.citizensagainstmelrosequarry.com