Most of the citizens in the northeast part of Flamborough are determined to protect our water from the would-be new neighbor, St. Marys Cement. Who wouldn’t want to protect water that is so naturally clean that it is bottled and shipped far and wide? It makes sense.

The same citizens have shown their concern with the proposal to turn our quiet community into an open pit mine, shipping 1,000 trucks a day through our school bus routes and past our doorsteps, making travel presumably somewhat more perilous by foot, bicycle, or motor vehicle. Who wouldn’t want to protect the quiet setting that we have grown to love? It makes sense.

So what about the businesses already established in the community?

We have a variety of small, locally-owned businesses, including produce and dairy farming, race horse boarding and training facilities, golf clubs, leisure facilities, and nearly every service you could imagine. What effect would SMC’s mammoth business have on these (mostly small), local businesses?

I imagine the farmers would be affected by the noise, dust, and traffic. Also, if the quarry affects the watershed, farmers will face the consequences – you can’t grow anything without water.

Generally, the quarry’s presence and demands would slow things down, reducing the productivity and profitability of farming enterprises.

The race-horse facilities? I’m guessing daily blasting and race horses are not a good mix. If the serenity of these facilities is affected, there will surely be less demand for facilities in this area, and we all know what that does for the bottom line.

The golf and leisure facilities are selling beautiful surroundings, along with their services. If we are going to add noisy truck traffic, dust and explosions to this setting, I’m afraid other locations might be more appealing.

And what about all the other small businesses affected by traffic slowdowns as the gravel trucks and trains and school buses vie for access on our local roads? More time on the road means less productivity – everyone’s business slowed down by the stresses of overused infrastructure. Once again, it will be the residents and small businesses who feel the crunch.

Are we willing to let our small, local businesses suffer so that a large, wealthy business like St. Marys profits from its placement in our community? Our rocks will not be the only resources they’ll be shipping out of here, but also our livelihood and our sustainability. Our rural lifestyle is largely shaped by the types of businesses that we access and support. When the practices of St. Marys forces this to change, it won’t just impact individual business owners – it’ll impact our community’s established and appreciated way of life.

Changing infrastructure, noise pollution, and endangered water supplies impact the entire ‘ecosystem’ of our community -from your children’s safety, to your access to leisure, to the way you buy your produce.

Glenn Lawson, Freelton