LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Strada quarry concerns

October 16, 2025 · 0 Comments

Dear Editor,

My name is Sherri Webster, and I am a member of the MAQ (Melancthon Against Quarries) group.

In reference to the article written in the Free Press on Oct. 2, 2025, “Shelburne council expresses concern over Strada Aggregates’ proposed quarry expansion.”

Your concerns for roads and traffic are valid, and I commend you on the steps you are taking to join the fight.

What I would like to bring to your attention is that this quarry is at the headwaters of three water systems – the Pine, the Boyne, and the Grand Rivers. I also want to ensure that you are aware that some of the water for the Shelburne water towers does come from the Boyne River system.

Potentially, that water could be diverted.

A plumber told one of our members this quarry works much like a person who blows up a bomb in their basement, hoping their plumbing will stay intact (not likely). No one can ensure exactly what the outcome will be, and Strada has never operated a blasting quarry. We are a pet project and the guinea pigs of what may be.

I also wanted to enlighten you as to the dust that comes from blasting. With our prevailing winds, the potential for dust to travel up to eight kilometres is a possibility. This means dust is coming your way.

Limestone blasting quarries pose significant risks to air quality due to the release of particulate matter and toxic gases during blasting, excavation, and heavy machinery operation.

The dust generated often contains fine particles known as PM10 and PM2.5. These particulates are so fine that they can penetrate the blood vessels through the lungs and seriously affect the health of human beings, contributing to serious health issues such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and increased cancer risk.

There is no process to remove these particulates from the human body.

In addition to dust, blasting emits other pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, benzene, and other hazardous compounds, which further degrade ambient air quality.

Sherri Webster

Horning’s Mills