Cattle farmer brings megaquarry fight to Collingwood

Town should get on board with motion calling for tourism impact study
By Morgan Ian Adams
Updated 7 days ago

COLLINGWOOD Carl Cosack is just one volunteer of many. But theres no doubt the debate over Highland Companies proposal to mine more than 2,300 acres in Melancthon Township for aggregate has thrust the plain-spoken cattle farmer into the spotlight. The story is not just about me, Cosack said after presenting the case of the North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce to 25 people who turned out to a potluck dinner in All Saints Anglican Church parish hall, Tuesday night. We have one mission there is no ego, and no leader, and were proud of that... Im just a volunteer, I just got the job of presenting. As NDACTs chair, Cosack has criss-crossed the province, delivering the message that allowing the so-called megaquarry to go ahead will have profound effects on water, air, and food. While NDACT has been around for more than three years, originating out of a public meeting held in Honeywood in January, 2009, its cause has really been taken up outside of Melancthons boundaries in the last year since Highlands filed its application. Its also taken Cosack from parish halls, to the halls of Queens Park; on Monday, he was meeting with Ontarios environment minister Jim Bradley. Its not so much Highlands proposal to mine for aggregate as it is whats entailed: a massive quarry that will go 200 feet below the water table, and require Highland to pump more than 600 million litres of water a day from an area that is the headwaters for several area rivers, including the Pretty, Nottawasaga, and Saugeen. If we ever mess it up, theres no way it can go back to the status quo, he said. Theres also the amount of traffic generated by the quarry; Cosack estimates about 7,000 truck movements a day, six days a week. Whats surprised Cosack most, though, is not so much about the public concern about water, as public concern about food. That was emphasized with last Octobers FoodStock, which drew more than 25,000 people and featured the culinary work of more than 100 talented chefs and music by Blue Rodeos Jim Cuddy, Sarah Harmer, and Ron Sexsmith.

The support has boggled everyones minds, including mine, said Cosack. Its not a case of not in my backyard, insists Cosack, but rethinking how the province deals with the aggregate industry. Provincial policy, he noted, favours aggregate over agriculture, while other countries do a better job of recycling aggregate rather than permit the mining of more. This is not an issue about us being against aggregate, he said. Weve done aggregate a certain way for 50 years, but weve gotten smarter and understand whats at risk in 2012. Lets not take aggregate at all risk and at all costs, he said. People have earned the right to decide the fate of their community. This (fight) will change policy in the province of Ontario so other communities are not forced into this situation again, and again. While NDACT has been successful in getting the message to the people, Cosack says its been a little tougher getting through to municipal governments outside of the immediate area of the proposal who dont see how a quarry in Melancthon could affect them. For instance, he said, he wants to see the Town of Collingwood get on board with a motion calling for a tourism impact study as part of the environment assessment process instituted by the province last fall. This is about the economic wellbeing of the community; this should be on councils radar, he said. The amount of traffic on a major access road (to Collingwood) would have a devastating impact on the community. After his presentation, Cosack answered several questions noting afterward that hes always happy to address the hard questions of whether this just isnt a NIMBY-initiated fight. The questions come out of a sincere interest, he said. And the arguments against (the quarry) resonate and make sense. Cosacks presentation, and the dinner, was organized by the Georgian Bay Food Alliance, a group of individuals and organizations that promotes healthy, sustainable local food. When we were approached by NDACT to speak to the community about the megaquarry, we were very amenable to hosting this effect, said GBFAs chair Eva Meriorg. We are very aware of how the quality and quantity of water in our community will have a direct effect on the quality of our local food. Nothing (with the quarry proposal) works... and that touches a nerve with people that makes them mad as hell, said Cosack. This area is the highest-risk location

for the destruction of soil, and the issue of water pumping, and we dont consider that a smart risk. NDACT signs are available at the Environment Network.