Q-and-A with NDACT regarding Strada's pending aggregate application in Melancthon

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Published on Friday, 18 March 2022 10:03

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If the plans prove viable, NDACT will not oppose

By Tabitha Wells, Orangeville Banner
Thursday, March 17, 2022

As the North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT) continues to work with Strada regarding an expected application to dig below the water table at their current operation in Melancthon, they are also working to help property owners stay apprised of the best ways to proceed.

In early March, the NDACT sent out an email advising property owners to hold off on providing Strada access to their properties for hydrology studies until the two groups have a signed agreement.

NDACT chair Karren Wallace says the hydrology studies will take place over the next year or two.

We spoke with Wallace to find out more.

Q: Why should property owners wait for an agreement between NDACT and Strada?

A: The benefit to waiting would be a clearer understanding of the Wells and Natural Features program being developed, including the extent of the study area and access to the remediation fund should someone's well/natural feature be impacted in the future.

NDACT is not recommending that landowners shouldn’t participate in the well/water studies. Should a landowner deny access to a proponent to conduct water studies, and should they be impacted later, it would be hard to prove fault without a baseline.

We are just asking them to wait until the agreement is signed.

Q: If property owners do not grant access to their properties, will this impact the study?

A: Absolutely. The wider the study area is, the better for not only Strada, but the landowners. In order to get a widespread baseline, the more landowners that participate, the better.

Q. How are talks going?

A: We had a very productive meeting with Strada on March 11, 2022, in which a greater understanding on both sides was achieved with some common goals reached. The discussions are ongoing.

Q: If NDACT will not challenge the development based on the viability, what purpose does an agreement serve?

A: The agreement is all about the scientific viability of the quarry and also provides for benefits to the community. If the studies conclude that the quarry could not operate without adverse environmental impacts, then Strada will not proceed with the application. If, on the other hand, the science proves that the quarry is viable, then NDACT is prepared not to object to the filing of the application.

NDACT and Strada are negotiating both a Community Recreational Improvement Fund and a Wells and Natural Features Program.

At this point, no one knows, including Strada, whether the proposed quarry is viable. By bringing the necessary pre-application tests and their results into the public domain … this can support public confidence in the project.

Q: Some concerns online surrounded the belief NDACT is against gravel excavation and development — what response would you provide?

A: NDACT is not against aggregate. During the Megaquarry, NDACT did not fight against aggregate but did fight for better planning and solid science behind an application. Since the Megaquarry days, NDACT has learned much — particularly that a seven-plus year battle is costly (in more ways than financial) for all participants and the community and that there just has to be a better way to manage through the ARA process.

Q: Anything else you think is important for homeowners who could be impacted to know?

A: NDACT has agreed to work with Strada in order to make sure that no homeowner is negatively impacted. That is our purpose.

Other things we encourage is for people to get involved, reach out with questions and be informed. We are here to help and find/facilitate answers. Identify the water and natural features (ponds, wetlands, creeks and waterways even if those are seasonal) on your property and have those registered and monitored with Strada once our agreement is signed. This would hold true for those landowners who might not be within one kilometre of the proposed site but are concerned even so they might be two or three kilometres from the Strada location on the 4th Line, Melancthon.