No consensus on Fundy Gypsum expansion

She has said it before and now she is saying it again: West Hants councillor Shirley Pineo will not support the quarry expansion at Miller’s Creek. Pineo and fellow councillor Randy Matheson alone raised objections to signing a letter of support in favor of the expansion during joint council October 29.

“I don’t want to go against this council because we should be united, but I need to stand with the people in my area on this.” Pineo said. Since the focus report part of the company’s environmental assessment was filed October 16, she has received numerous phone calls from citizens expressing their concerns regarding the damaging effects of a possible Avondale quarry expansion.

The subject was raised at council in response to correspondence from the Hants County Regional Development Authority (HRDA) encouraging councils’ endorsement of the expansion.

“Canada Gypsum Company is one of the most significant employers and taxpayers in Hants County. The proposed expansion of its quarry operation is vital to the economic stability of this region. “We encourage you (council) to avoid any unnecessary delays in the approval process,” wrote RDA executive director Paul McGinn in a letter also signed by West Hants councillor and HRDA board chair Rick Gaudet.

The letter states failure to secure an expansion would result in “irreparable damage” to the economies of Hantsport, Windsor and West Hants.

Damage of another sort worries Pineo. “We can create new, sustainable jobs but we cannot create new farmland. When the agricultural land is gone, it is gone forever. You do not know what personal tragedy this expansion will bring to peoples lives.”

She added, in a time when “buy local” is the focus, more consideration needs to be given to farmers located around the proposed site. “Here we are doing a big buy local promotion in Nova Scotia, and at the same time talking about destroying some of the finest agricultural land in the province.”

Pineo said ultimately any economic benefits of the expansion would be short lived and the Province should be looking to expand sustainable resources. “Do we want the same jobs the Gypsum Company has failed to provide in recent years or do we want a future that will last for generations?”

Matheson supported Pineo’s objection, noting, despite talk of future reclamation, quarry damage created over the past 40 years is irreparable. “They say they will reclaim the land when they are finished but they have never done that with the present quarry. There is not much you can do with a giant hole.

“The long-term economic opportunity and benefit will only prove itself if we leave the land as it.”

Town of Hantsport Mayor Wayne Folker says his town is dependent on the industry Fundy Gypsum provides. More than half of the towns tax base comes from its operations and he fears there will be a greater economic downturn in the town should the expansion be denied.

“The bottom line is we can grow all the food we want, but we have to put the dollars in peoples pockets to buy it. Instead we’re sending people to Alberta to work when we have a … very good corporate citizen attempting to expand and sustain local jobs.”

Folker said, based on past history, councils should have faith the company will respect any environmental conditions placed on an approved expansion.

Matheson said he had his doubts. “The gypsum company has always done what the gypsum company wants to do and they do not, in my experience, work with the people.”