We would like to note upfront that our organization is not anti-aggregate nor anti-road. Simply put, the proposal to expand the Braeside Quarry and to add an asphalt plant, either temporary or permanent, is not compatible with the existing residential community that has been established.

Quarry Expansion – Chronology of Events

April 12, 2005   Copy of Correspondence from Miller Paving Ltd. sent to County of Renfrew regarding the establishment of “Non-Portable Asphalt Plant” at the Braeside Quarry.

Summer 2005   Millers met with County Planning Dept. re. planning aspects of expansion proposal.

July 20, 2005   Permit To Take Water (PTTW) granted to Miller by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), one year before MOE’s own requirements for a PTTW were actually completed. This permit is for ten years and allows water taking of up to approx. 11 million litres/day. (Not one person near the quarry who could reasonably be affected by this huge water taking was notified before the permit was granted. Therefore no one had a chance to object.)

December 13, 2005   Township Planning Meeting where Miller documented their intent to make application to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), to licence lands adjacent to the Braeside Quarry for an expansion of the existing quarry.

March 28, 2006   McNab/Braeside New Official Plan Draft was shown to the public. This planned to create the Braeside/Ottawa River Corridor of restricted residential development because ‘a large operational quarry proposes to dramatically increase in size from 74 acres to 250 acres and also widen its operational nature.’

April 13, 2006   FACT-MB was formed and community informed of upcoming Quarry expansion.

April 20, 2006   Approximately 300 people came to the Nick Smith Centre to hear a presentation from FACT-MB and sign up to help or get information.

April 28, 2006   By this date approximately 300 people wrote letters of concern to McNab/Braeside Council; according to Warden Sweet, 400 letters were written to the County expressing concern and objections re. quarry expansion, Septage Mgt., and the New Official Plan.

May 2006   The County planners sent all the citizens’ letters of concern re. quarry expansion to Miller without notice or permission.

June 8, 2006   Miller Braeside Quarry Expansion Proposal shown to the public by Skelton, Brumwell and Associates at an information meeting at McNab School.

July 2006   One year after the PTTW was granted – Miller’s hydrogeologists, Gorrell Resource Investigations, did the rest of the work that should have been done before the PTTW was granted by the MOE, Clyde Hammond, Director.

September 18, 2006   Public meeting re. New Official Plan was held at McNab School. Mr. Cotton, the County Planner and Council said there would be no asphalt plant in Braeside.

October 6, 2006   This was the extended deadline to comment in writing on the August 2006 draft of the Official Plan for McNab/ Braeside; plan was shelved due to election process.

April 10, 2007   FACT-MB presented the Council of McNab/Braeside a proposal geared toward the conservation of the Braeside Alvar.

June 4, 2007   Miller received approval for Sewage Works permit. The sign notifying the community only said it was applying for dewatering of the quarry.

August 22, 2007   Miller’s Blast accident occurred at Braeside Quarry. Usborne St. was littered with rock; rocks damaged a neighbour’s house and vehicle extensively; rock fell on another neighbour’s lawn.

December 2007   Miller brought application for zoning change to allow for expansion before Council.

May 2008   Miller and Miller’s Blasting Company, Sernoski Bros. Ltd. were charged under section 14:1 and 186:1 of the Environmental Protection Act. Charges: discharging a contaminant and emitting foreign materials (fly rock) into the environment on Aug. 22, 2008 and failure to notify MOE of the effects of the Aug. 22, 2008 blast

May 23, 2008   First appearance was in Pembroke Provincial Offences Court; adjourned until August 29, 2008.