Members of the Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) returned to Guelph-Eramosa council last week to discuss their latest concern: fly rock.
CRC member Bill Hill, a retired mining engineer, told council those living near the proposed James Dick Construction quarry – at the northeast corner of the 6th Line and Highway 7 – could experience damage, injury or worse, if the application is approved.
James Dick officials have stated fly rock will not be a concern at the quarry southeast of Rockwood.
Hill admitted he had no experience with underwater blasting like that proposed at the James Dick site, but he showed photos of several fly rock accidents from around the globe.
“You only hear about the ones that are reported,” Hill said, suggesting fly rock incidents are more common than reports indicate.
He told council material from pit blasts can be propelled up to 1,000km/h by up to 700kg of explosives.
Hill explained there are 18 homes within a 500 metre radius of the proposed James Dick pit – and other nations, such as England, have stated pits should not be that close to houses.
He said a quarry in Milton eventually shut down because nearby homes “shook” with every blast – and those homes were the same distance away from the Milton quarry as Main Street in Rockwood is from the James Dick proposal.
Hill said those with wells within one kilometre of the James Dick site are “in trouble.” He concluded by saying fly rock, vibrations and damage to the environment are the CRC’s main concerns with blasting at the site.
Councillors thanked Hill for the presentation and noted separation distances from the pit, as well as any possible ground contamination due to blasting materials, are issues the township will investigate.
