Sometimes it seems there is nothing more controversial than a gravel pit or quarry.
Since I began at the Advertiser over five years ago, the quarry journey I’ve followed most closely was located just outside of Rockwood. It was approved last week.
The “hidden quarry,” at the northeast corner of Highway 7 and 6th Line, has been a possibility for eight years, has been the subject of an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing and Local Planning and Appeals Tribunal (LPAT) hearing and has appeared as a point of discussion at Guelph-Eramosa council meetings on numerous occasions.
I can honestly say I didn’t know how this one was going to go.
But two things were certain. We all need aggregate so we can travel around this great county and country on well-maintained roads and so that we can live, work and visit in buildings that are reliably built with good supplies and foundations. Aggregate is the backbone of all those things. Aggregate, in a way, keeps our economy growing and our businesses strong. It’s inevitable.
Next, I wouldn’t want a quarry anywhere near my home. There are a lot of unknowns that are really scary. Will it impact the water? Will the trucks make roads more dangerous for drivers and pedestrians? Will there be blasting accidents? No one knows.
I hope quarry operator James Dick Construction Ltd., the citizens of Rockwood and the surrounding area, and especially the Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC), can work together to create a quarry that provides the necessities to the province and keeps the area safe for residents and visitors.
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The new FreshCo in the north end of Fergus officially opened last Thursday.
My curiosity got the better of me on Friday after work and I think the entirety of Fergus had the same idea. The parking lot was full and when I walked in the store was busier than I’d ever seen the old location.
However, the shelves were stocked, carts were available and there were only two people in front of me in line. Impressive.
I like to take my time grocery shopping and make sure I get all the deals I had planned. Even though the store was busy, there was still space for me to do my thing.
However, next time I think I’ll go mid-week and definitely not on the Friday before a long weekend.
Principal Nick Prangikos of Maverick Development Corporation confirmed that Dollarama will be joining FreshCo and Dairy Queen in the new plaza.
No other businesses have yet been announced.
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