East Luther Grand Valley Township council has rejected a bid by a multinational firm to store explosives used in quarries on a property in the township.
Mayor John K. Oosterhof said in an interview on Monday that the council was unanimous in rejecting a temporary storage facility, and also unanimous in rejecting a zone change and official plan amendment that would have allowed Orica Mining Serviced to permanently store explosives on the site.
The company, which has its international headquarters in Australia, had been using a parcel of land owned by Klaus Friesecke.
The land is located at emergency number 033411 on Sideroad 21-22, Concession 4 South. Its designation is agricultural and environmental protection and the proposal was to change it to a special policy area and environmental protection area.
Mayor John Oosterhof said there was little discussion at council when it held its votes at a meeting the last week in May. He said the council chamber was packed with people.
Hundreds of residents opposed the proposal. The site had been used to store explosives in a very minor way for over a dozen years, but when the Orica application became known, there was almost universal opposition in the neighbourhoods. It planned a huge expansion.
The company held a public meeting in early April to try to convince residents that the storage plan was safe, but residents were adamant they did not want large amounts of explosives stored anywhere near the Luther Marsh. The land is 500 metres away from that wetland.
Residents also deplored the company’s world-wide safety record, despite assurances by Orica employees that all steps would be taken to ensure safety.
The battle, however, might not be over. Orica has already spent a large amount of money for a storage facility on the rented site, and it has the right to appeal council’s decision to the Ontario Municipal Board.
“The ball is in their court,” Oosterhof said. “If they appeal, they have 20 days to make that decision.”
