TO ALL RESIDENTS OF MOUNT UNIACKE - NO MATTER WHAT PART YOU ARE IN - PLEASE READ TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S COMING AND HELP STOP THIS INCREDIBLE INSULT TO OUR COMMUNITY!!!
Copy / pasted from an entry to the Uniacke Newsletter Facebook Page in July 2022.
(there is a lot more information on the Mount Uniacke web site regarding the quarry and the immense lack of information supplied by the quarry company - it's well worth the read.) Once you are on the Newsletter Page on Facebook, scroll downward to the "date" of July 11, 2022 and start reading the article. When you are finished go "UP" (not down on the selections connected to the quarry) until you access quarry information as the system takes you through the "history".
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SO, WHAT WAS THE NOTICE "REALLY" ALL ABOUT?
The notice was sent out by Mr. Andrew Rodgers, owner of Northumberland Capital Corp. Inc., running the aggregate quarry off the Uniacke Mines Road. But the "notice" was ONLY sent to "certain privileged folks". What games is he playing with the folks of Mount Uniacke? He's been quoted as saying that he wants to be a "good Community Citizen", yet he treats that same population with evasion and disrespect. He hasn't engaged in a meaningful way in all these past seven years, with his present operation, regarding the concerns many have over the deplorable road conditions and quality of life issues suffered and endured by those who must live and travel on the Uniacke Mines Road. The road has been made worse for seven years now with the increased convoy of heavy commercial, aggregate-carrying, dust-laden trucks. Not to mention "other issues" created by his operation!
HOW IS THE COMMUNITY OF MOUNT UNIACKE BENEFITTING IN ANY WAY???
It's been quite baffling to most people from the start - until folks started asking questions of the Department of Environment. His "notice" reads like his company had already made application to the Department of Environment some three months ago for the Expansion Project. Yet, THEY DIDN'T!! (that's been confirmed by an Inspector from Environment).
They went through the motions of doing up this very professionally-presented and worded "Notice to the Public" about an Open House, so that the "PUBLIC" could find out more about the expansion plans (it reads). MISLEADING by its wording, it would seem to anyone reading it that it was worded to be seen by the masses.
Yet IT WASN'T!! Instead, some in the Community finding out it was ONLY received by a select FEW individuals by way of email, explaining in the email that the company wanted to give them a heads up prior to it (the proposed expansion project) being advertised in the newspapers the following week. Yet, IT WASN'T!! This all took place near the end of April. Again, it bears repeating....WHAT GAME IS MR. RODGERS PLAYING WITH THE PEOPLE OF MOUNT UNIACKE?
Sending those same concerned area residents looking for proof of such newspaper advertisements, only to establish there never were any. Not yet understanding that the company wasn't required to do the required advertisements because they hadn't yet applied to register! Discovering ONLY by late May, after having certain things confirmed by the Inspector from Environment, that there was no requirement YET!
So, the quarry company (Mr. Rodgers) created a great deal of confusion and uncertainty for the public of Mount Uniacke - who, we repeat, says he wants ONLY to be a good Community Citizen with us - yet, he MISLED these same people! WHY??? When folks did show up at the "Public Open House", Mr. Rodgers and his team clearly weren't prepared to see some 100 folks. This was obvious by no adequate number of seats arranged. It explained why there was no organized format ready despite their nice "Notice" which states - "AN INVITATION TO ALL who are interested in expressing concerns or have comments".
Well, people showed up but Mr. Rodgers and his team WERE NOT professional, respectful or inviting, in our opinion. He (they) didn't introduce themselves to those who took the time to attend with their concerns; didn't explain the project; give a timeline or provide an opportunity for a question and answer session.
In short, he (they) didn't engage with folks at all. There were a couple of posters on a table to look at and a person from the environment engineering company they've hired to conduct their Environmental Assessment (something more to be said later on that note). That was it! Many left in disgust and frustration over having wasted their time. Then there was the "unprofessional" manner in which one of his team players not only discarded but "first" tore in half, leftover information papers created by one of our area residents. A person who had taken the concern, time and money to prepare for those in attendance. That was very "disrespectful" of Mr. Rodgers and his team. Not the way to foster good community relationships!
This same individual of the company hired to conduct the project's environmental assessment was reached out to by one of our area residents, after that sham of a Public Open House, to ask why the company was looking to expand now when they have two years left on their present license to operate. The answer came back with the individual quoting Mr. Rodgers (begin quoted text from the email exchange) - "You have asked for further explanation --"The quarry is running out of places to dig and blast in the current quarry. They need more gravel". I have spoken to Mr. Rodgers and he provided some additional information which is far more informative than my over-simplification of the situation. Mr. Rodgers' statement was as follows, "There is likely 5-10 years of rock remaining within Lot MA1(this is the quarry). NCCI just wants to be in a position to possibly adjust the quarry alignment, possibly create a shallower face which will yield less explosives in the ground per column foot of drill hole which all leads to reducing the concerns around ground vibrations and air blast." End of quoted text from email
There are those outside the quarry company who believe Mr. Rodgers is looking to get his expansion approved prior to 2025 for the reason that Mount Uniacke, like so many other rural areas, is growing a great deal and the hope is to get the "approval" in place before there is a higher population, adding more people, more homes, more vehicles on the roadways - giving the Department of Environment "perhaps" cause to have more conern over the project expansion.
There should be a concern from the Department of Environment NOW!!! For the same reason!
When the project does show up on the environment's project registration list http://novascotia.ca/nse/ea/pr... every member of the public can check periodically to keep up to date. But, on same page, left hand side bar, you'll see the words "Join the EA Mailing List" - IF you submit your email address the Department will notify you when the company shows up on this list. When the project does submit for registration and you click on the project in the listings, you'll then see a date will be given for the Department to receive comments by under "Opportunities for Public Input".
We know "many of you" have already submitted concerns to the Department of Environment since news of this expansion became known in the Community, however, please don't let that prevent you from submitting your "same" concerns (and maybe since then, you have some new ones) during this "Public Input" state of their Environmental Assessment process.
Perhaps that, right there, is the answer to the mystery questions asked at the beginning of this article: "What was Mr. Rodgers' "premature" Notice of Public Open House REALLY all about?" Was it just to get folks all stirred up, writing to their government officials "prematurely" - way ahead of the company ever making their intent known to the Department? Hoping that everyone who'd been all stirred up before would be so frustrated that they wouldn't take the time again when it counted more? Or, felt they'd already said their piece - no need to do more. But there is!!!! Plus, let's not forget that people tend to be more pre-occupied in the summer months, with the nicer weather, yard work, the kids out of school, socializing and vacation planning. Perhaps Mr. Rodgers' timing to submit his application will be during the next two months, hoping he'll catch us ALL off guard!? Is this your plan Mr. Rodgers???
LET'S PROVE Mr. Rodgers WRONG!!! Let's show a sea of support "against" this expansion project, once we know it's been registered for the Environmental Assessment. Sign up on the link above to receive your email notification so not to miss out on the deadline to submit your comments.
If you've already submitted by this time, great - even easier, just copy/paste whatever you've already sent and send again.
Have a great summer "everyone" but PLEASE take a small amount of your valuable time-out to deal with this CRUCIAL matter for your Community and its citizens (your neighbours, your fellow taxpayers).
Many thanks for "listening" and hopefully being inspired by the information presented to you and for you.
From a very Concerned Resident