Digby quarry opponents step up lobby efforts

Opponents of a proposed quarry in Nova Scotia's Digby County gathered at a rallyon Fridayin another effort to havethe project shelved.

During thedemonstration at Province House, representatives of seven different groups spoke out amid a sea of red signs that read "Stop the Quarry"

The Liberal MLA for the area, Harold Theriault, who hosted the rally, said green-lighting the project would be the biggest mistake the government could ever make.

"We believe if the door is opened for this to become a gravel pit for the United States, it will be the beginning of the end to a world-class tourist destination," he said.

Theriault plans tointroduce abill during the fall session of the legislature to restrict coastal rock from Brier Island to Cape Split from being exported out of Nova Scotia.

The proposal for Whites Point, on the Bay of Fundy, calls for the construction of a quarry and marine terminal on about 150 hectares of land. About 40,000 tonnes of basalt rock would be shipped each week to U.S. cities on the Eastern Seaboard.

The Nova Scotia government approved the project four years ago. Soon after,the proposalwas sent to ajoint review panel to assess its impact on the environment.

In its report, Bilcon, the company behind the proposal, concludedthe quarrywouldpose no significantthreat to the area.

But opponents saythe quarry woulddamage the environment, hurt the local fishery and tourism, and reduce the quality of life for residents.

Hopes panel sides with opponents

Fisherman Kemp Stanton said he's optimistic the environmental review panel will side with opponents, particularly if "local experts" are listened to.

"They need to understand that it's different than almost any [other] quarry," he told CBC News before the rally.

If the quarry goes ahead, Stanton said he would be able to hear activity at night, which would keep him up. But more importantly, he said, the position of the terminal on the Bay of Fundy would prevent him from fishing in certain areas.

"I would expect in a few years of it starting that I would not be able to make a living at least within three to four miles of that site," Stanton said.

There are people who support the project.

Bilcon predicts the quarry would bring $1.5 million in employment income through new jobs to the region.

But Stanton said proponents cannot see the bigger picture.

"What we believe will happen, there will be a net loss of jobs in the area," he said, adding fishermen will be among those without work.

The deadline for sending comments to the environmental review panel has been extended to next Friday.