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Stop The Quarry - Newsletter

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FORCE Summer 2005 Activities Update

Summer is now unfortunately behind us, and everyone is busy catching up and settling into fall routines. The same holds true for FORCE. Here is a summary of our activities over the Summer.

Summer 2005 demonstrated to us how the aggregate application planning process will ebb and flow. Sometimes it will be very visible and public, requiring actions by FORCE supporters and generating lots of media attention, and sometimes it will be invisible and seemingly inactive.

The City of Hamilton's process continues to move forward, though at a very slow pace, with respect to the Carlisle Quarry application. The City's Peer Review Team commenced its work once Lowndes Holdings Corp. finally posted their bond. We expect to see the first results of that work this sometime fall.

In the meantime FORCE was involved in a number of activities. These included:

• Meetings with Municipal Politicians and Officials - FORCE steering committee members met with a number of area councillors and staff officials during late June and early July to brief them on FORCE's position and our substantive case against the proposed quarry application;
• FORCE Submission on City of Burlington White Paper - As part of its Official Plan review process, the City of Burlington has issued a White Paper on Sustainability and the Environment (363 KB). FORCE is supportive of many of the forward looking directions in the paper. In particular a recognition that aggregate development is not an interim land use but one that has a time horizon longer than most residents reside in their homes and longer than municipal planning tools such as the Official Plans. It is also a use that forever changes the landscape for our and future generations. FORCE reviewed the whitepaper and provided the following submission. Download the full FORCE Submission (137 KB).
• Research on Relevant Provincial and Tribunal Decisions - FORCE has been researching the precedents and learnings from recent Provincial decisions regarding aggregate applications. These include the Dufferin Milton Quarry Expansion decision now under appeal to Provincial Cabinet as well as a late spring decision by the Minister of Natural Resources to deny an aggregate application at Mellon Lake, north of Bellville. Read more in the Latest News segment on this decision.
• Participation at meeting regarding Proposed Changes to the Aggregate Resources Policy and Procedures Manual, Hosted by GravelWatch. FORCE also prepared a submission - FORCE Steering Committee members attended and participated in the briefing hosted by GravelWatch regarding revisions to the ARA Policy and Procedures Manual in July. The keynote speaker was Stuart Thatcher, Senior Policy Advisor in the Aggregate and Petroleum Resources section of the Ministry of Natural Resources. A question and answer session followed. The attendees were successful in obtaining a one month extension to the public comment period and in networking to improve information exchange for the submissions themselves. FORCE submitted comments on the draft revisions and on the policy framework supporting it. Download the full FORCE submission (107 KB).
• Continued Provincial Liaison - A number of FORCE supporters and Steering Committee members - all at their own personal expense - attended the annual Ted McMeekin Golf Tournament at Copetown Woods on July 19, 2005. The event provided the opportunity to informally meet with a number of provincial Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentary Assistants (MPPs) to Ministers, and staff advisors to discuss the FORCE position.
• Analysis of Lowndes Holdings Corp.'s Level 2 Hydrogeology Report Prepared by Gartner Lee Limited - FORCE received a copy of the 3 volume Level 2 Hydrogeology Report prepared for Lowndes Holdings Corp. by Gartner Lee Limited in late July. The report validates the concerns about drinking water quantity and quality, as well as impacts on the Provincially Significant Wetlands and area creeks, raised for FORCE by our hydrogeologist expert, INTERA Engineering. Review the new hydrogeology report from Lowndes Holdings Corp. (Please note that the files are extremely large). INTERA is now preparing a critique of the latest hydrogeology submission.
• Attendance at GravelWatch Ontario Formation - FORCE Steering Members attended the formative meeting of GravelWatch Ontario in August along with some 30 representatives from other community organizations involved in aggregate issues. GravelWatch Ontario is being formed with a mandate to promote responsible management of the aggregate industry in Ontario. Its aims will include networking and information exchange along with advocacy. A President, Vice-President and Secretary were elected. No further meetings were set. FORCE will continue to monitor developments.
• Monitoring Greenbelt Developments - The Greenbelt Foundation was announced in June 2005 with an initial endowment of $25 million to sustain and promote the Greenbelt. It has since has hired its first Executive Director, Burkhard Mausberg. Read the Press Release (86 KB).
• Making our Case with Local Stakeholders - the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce - FORCE met with representatives of the FCC Board in September to discuss FORCE's concerns regarding the FCC's implied endorsement of the Lowndes Holdings Corp. Proposed Carlisle Quarry. Read more in the Latest News segment on this item.
• Securing Equal Footing in the Peer Review Process for FORCE Experts - The City of Hamilton had agreed to circulate FORCE's expert reports on Lowndes Holdings Corp.'s application to its Peer Review Team. The City has also recently agreed to allow FORCE's experts equal footing to those of the proponent, allowing them to speak directly with the Peer Review Team about their critiques of the proponent's application on behalf of the community.

In addition to the activities highlighted above, FORCE volunteer canvassers have been busy throughout the summer meeting with community residents and businesses securing financial commitments and distributing lawn signs. Please contact FORCE at info@StopTheQuarry.ca to make your 2005 financial commitment or order a lawn sign, if you have not yet done so.

The Steering Committee has also continued to meet every two weeks to plan and oversee execution of both short and long term activities as well as monitor the work of our Experts

If you have feedback, questions or time that you can volunteer to help, please contact FORCE at info@StopTheQuarry.ca.

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