03112011

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The Creemore

Echo Clocks go forward Saturday night!

Friday, March 11, 2011 Vol. 11 No. 10

Inside the Echo

Broomsticks and Hockey Sticks

From curling to hockey, NCPS students are having lots of fun on ice. Page 12

News and views in and around Creemore

Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONER WEIGHS IN AT QUARRY HEARING “Independent watchdog” has general concerns with Walker expansion

Photo Teza Lawrence

HISTORY LOST Clearview Township lost an iconic building on Monday when Gord Kemp and Teza

Lawrence’s 105-year-old barn, just south of Duntroon, burnt to the foundation. The couple lost about 20 sheep in the fire, but saved another two dozen, as well as a horse, a llama and a favourite goat. For the full story, see page 6.

Echo Briefs Two Public Meetings

The Clearview Council meeting scheduled for Monday, March 14 will feature two interesting public meetings: first, one pertaining to Creemore Springs’ new application to rezone two additional properties behind the existing brewery to Downtown Commercial/Industrial Zone; and second; one regarding an application by Creemore dairy farmer John Miller to put the necessary zonings in place to allow the construction of a dairy processing plant on his farm. The meeting begins at 5:30 pm, and the public meetings begin at 6:55 pm.

ARC Deadline Extended

WILDLIFE SIGHTING

Photo Dennis Campbell

Local photographer Dennis Campbell was thrilled to get this shot of a Bald Eagle on Riverside Road between Creemore and Glen Huron last Saturday. Campbell was able to take several good photos before the big bird flew away down the river.

The Accomodation Review Committee dealing with the fate of Duntroon Central Public School was granted an extension of the deadline for its report at a special meeting of the School Board on Wednesday, March 9. The report, which had been due on March 10, is now expected on March 22.

Melancthon Quarry Application Filed

After years of speculation, the Highland Companies finally filed an application to operate quarries on 937 hectares of land in Melancthon Township on March 7. Details can be found at www.highlandcompanies.ca.

by Brad Holden The Consolidated Board Hearing regarding the Duntroon quarry expansion, nearing its one-year anniversary with at least a couple of months to go before it ends, was the scene of an interesting minidrama earlier this week when Gord Miller, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, took the stand as a witness for the Clearview Community Coalition (CCC), the group that’s opposing the application. Appointed by the Legislative Assembly, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario is meant to act as the province’s “independent environmental watchdog,” monitoring and reporting on the government’s compliance with its Environmental Bill of Rights, as well as its success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving greater energy conservation in Ontario. Miller has held the position since 2000. While he was quick to confirm under cross-examination that his views do not reflect those of the provincial government or any political party, his testimony in front of the Board did offer an interesting perspective on the policy framework under which the quarry application is being tested. And as Miller personally possesses a Master’s Degree and a partially completed Ph.D. in plant ecology, he was also qualified by the Board as an expert in that realm and was able to answer several general questions regarding the effects that Walker Aggregates’ plan might have on the ecology of the site and the surrounding area. Miller began by giving his opinions regarding a couple of terms that are integral to the Walker application. Up first was “interim use,” a term that the Aggregate Resources Act applies to quarries in general, implying that they exist only temporarily and eventually their sites are returned to their original state. But Miller pointed out that quarries typically are active for at least 60 years and, when prompted by CCC lawyer David Donnelly, agreed that, from the moment that the original Duntroon quarry began operations in 1965 to the hypothetical moment (See “Environmental” on page 3)

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