Miller Lake quarry opponents argue against appeal

Dozens of people from the Fall River area argued against a proposed quarry at a Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board hearing Monday night.

More than 75 people gathered to speak out against a New Brunswick construction company, Northern Construction Inc., that wants to strip about four hectares of land and turn it into a hard rock quarry near Miller Lake.

The Halifax Regional Municipality has already denied the company's request for a development permit because the city's bylaws don't allow extraction facilities in the area.

Northern Construction Inc. appealed the decision tothe Utility and Review Board.

Aaron Skidmore told the board he moved from his old home in Yarmouth to get away from a quarry, and now he's in the same fight against cracked foundations, depleted wells and property values.

"All these things that people talk about that could happen might happen, they will happen," he said Monday.

"I've lived it, I've seen it, experienced it and suffered through it."

Coun. Barry Dalyrmple, who is also against the project, accused Northern Construction Inc. of misleading the Utility and Review Board about the size of the quarry and how much rock and gravel it intended to pull out each year.

"They made a conscious decision to disregard HRM rules, HRM zoning, HRM citizens," he told the board.

"I am asking this UARB to make this company follow the rules."

No one at Monday night's meeting spoke in favour of the quarry.

The ruling from the Utility and Review Board is expected in 60 days.