Panel says 'no', area polarized

Local reaction has been quick and polarized to news a Digby Neck quarry has been handed a hands-down. A Joint Review Panel recommended provincial and federal environment ministers say no to a proposed basalt quarry and marine terminal at White's Point in a report handed to government Oct. 22.

Bilcon of Nova Scotia, the quarry proponent, said in a statement it would review the report carefully. Company spokesman Hugh Fraser said there would be more in the weeks ahead, but until then the news release says it.

"We received the report and (are) looking forward with great interest to the response from the ministers," said Fraser.

Sierra Club of Canada's Mark Dittrick said this result should finally put an end to a fear many local residents have had since the news first appeared about the project more than five years ago. He says this report should end, once and for all, any quarry on the North Mountain.

"The conclusion of this stellar panel was very, very clear: there was no ambiguity whatsoever. It was, beginning to end, a rejection of every aspect of this project," said Dittrick. "If they ignore the results of that process, there could be consequences for the Government of Nova Scotia. This has been the 'Tory Quarry' from the beginning so our real worry is whether or not this government will really abide by the recommendations of the panel."

Others opposed to the quarry from the outset also applauded the report for the lengths it went to unequivocally recommend against the project.

"We're pleased," said Don Mullin, vice-chair of the Stop The Quarry Coalition. "I think the panel was really courageous to not only deal with the issue of this quarry and the potential damage it could cause, they've gone wider than that and said we don't have a coastal management strategy and therefore we're always going to be wrestling with quarry issues until we get it straight, so they said no."

Mullin estimated the coalition spent about $100,000, raised in the local community, to present its arguments opposing the development, but they did receive support from experts in Canada and internationally. He said they won a battle that never should have been fought, but although they are ecstatic at this result, he said the victory is no cause to gloat.

"We're sorry that we can't create 34 jobs here that are self-sustaining, but not at the destruction of the community," said Mullin. "No sensible person is going to stand by and let something potentially destructive to the community occur."

Cindy Nesbitt, whose family runs the only gas station on Digby Neck, has seen the impact the collapse of the fishery has had on the community. She has been a supporter of the project, along with many other people in the region, and was devastated when she received the news.

She couldn't believe the panel rejected the proposal after so many government agencies had provided information supporting the project - and was quick to recall other industrial efforts, like Michelin, Britex and a wood-chipping plant that ended altogether, or moved elsewhere.

"We won't need to worry about a ferry or a hospital because there won't be anybody here," said Nesbitt, referring to the possible loss of the Digby to Saint John ferry and doctor shortages at the hospital.

She said her neighbours were feeling quite confident the project would pass the review because everybody that looked at it, wanted it.

"(They) felt that it was a good project, felt that it had potential to give a lot of families in the area a way to put a roof over their heads and feed their families," she said.

Nesbitt added there was lots of room for ministers to reach a different conclusion because of problems she saw with the report. While Mullin thanked the support the opposition received locally and outside of the region, Nesbitt felt the panel didn't accurately gauge the true feelings of people who live here.

"The panel talked about core values," said Nesbitt. "They talked about what was important to the community and what they got out of the hearings was not the core values of the people down here. People down here want to work."

To demonstrate their continued support of the project, Nesbitt said a group of pro-quarry supporters would hold a rally on Oct. 27 in front of MLA Harold "Junior" Theriault's office.

"It's a very difficult situation," said Nesbitt. "We need to have development down here. The people that want to stay here, that aren't supported by means other than the sweat off of their own brow, need to have work."