I, along with many others, have been concerned about the Highland Companies’ proposed quarry to be located north of Shelburne.  Frankly, I believe it will be an unmitigated environmental disaster if allowed to proceed.  With the assistance of some other concerned citizens, we created an on-line petition.

This is a chance to  have your voice heard at Queen’s Park.

Attached is a petition  to Stop the  Melancthon Mega Quarry that is proposed by a US Hedge Fund for Central Ontario.

Please take a few seconds to read it.   If you agree with it,  then please click on the link http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/megaquarry/

and sign (or paste the link into your browser).    If you don’t care to participate,  my apologies for taking your time.  I hope you understand my concerns.

The mere size  of the proposed aggregate quarry is mind-boggling;  initially covering over 2,300 acres of prime agricultural land in Melancthon Township and dug 50 feet deeper than Niagara Falls,  it initially will be the second largest quarry in North America.  It is worth noting that they have purchased over 8,000 acres of agricultural land in the immediate area.

With 300 aggregate trucks hourly plus 20 tons of explosives daily,  the potential for congestion of the roads and disaster on the main arteries to and from Toronto and the surrounding communities, plus the effect on cottage and ski country, is truly frightening and irresponsible.

If you did not know about this,  I encourage you to learn how this monster quarry has the potential to adversely affect millions of Ontarians – not just those living near the site.

You may want to view an amateur video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgS0m2XtBbI.  While this video has inaccuracies (for example, the proposed quarry will be near to the Niagara Escarpment, not within it), it does help to demonstrate some of the concerns shared by many of us.

The destruction of our prime agricultural land and natural resources must be stopped.

You can help by signing the petition linked below.   I have included some other links on our on-line petition of others that share our concern.

It only takes a few seconds and no personal information is requested, posted or shared.

The email address requested is used only to ensure that the petition names remain unique and are not duplicated.  Only one other person besides me can view your e-mail address.  Your e-mail address will remain confidential.

Please click below and sign:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/megaquarry/

Please forward this email to everyone you know who might also wish to speak out about the proposed Mega Quarry.

If possible, sign and e-mail this petition by June 30^th to enable us to file it with the Provincial Government by July 8^th, 2011.

For further reading, see this link from David Suzuki’s web site: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/panther-lounge/2011/05/billion-tonne-mega-quarry-to-improve-the-local-environment/

On behalf of all  those who truly love and care about this province….a very big ‘Thank You’.