Time is running out for people to comment on a controversial new quarry development in Georgian Bluffs.
The Ontario Municipal Board holding a pre hearing today — dealing with the proposed expansion of the Keppel Quarry, which would see it expand to 144 acres, extract 660 thousand tons of rock annually and put thousands of trucks on the road.
The hearing will take place in the Georgian Bluffs Council Chambers beginning at 10:30 AM.
One opponent of the quarry expansion, Dennis Shouldice says after that there will be no other opportunity to comment on the proposal.
Shouldice says people need to bring three copies of their presentation to the OMB.
He says the proposed Quarry will be very close to a Provincially Significant Wetland, located in a designated Area of Natural and Scientific Interest and in addition there are many many rare plant and animal species threatened and at danger from this Quarry.
Shouldice says he is not against aggregate but this is not the place for a new quarry which would located be within 100 feet of the Niagara Escarpment and the Shouldice Wetland.
He says the quarry proponents want to blast escarpment rock down 55 feet below the water table which could have a significiant impact on the water feeding nearby McNabb and Francis Lakes through underground springs.