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Regional commission opposes 2nd quarry at Estey's Bridge

Province rejects 2nd quarry for Estey's Bridge

A controversial second quarry near Estey's Bridge just outside Fredericton got a an official thumbs down Tuesday night from Regional Service Commission 11.

But Serge Rousselle, the minister of environment and local government does not have to agree with the commission's recommendation against a rezoning that would allow the quarry.

"He can actually approve the rezoning anyway," said Stephen McAlinden, the general manager of planning and development with the commission.

Residents of Douglas and Estey's Bridge fear the proposed quarry would be more disruptive than the one already in the area, which they say has changed lowered their quality of life because of the dust, noise and truck traffic.

Paul O'Connell, who has lived on the Carlisle Road in Douglas for 50 years, said the service commission's meeting Tuesday to make a final recommendation was packed with Douglas and Estey's Bridge residents opposed to the quarry.

"I don't think they've had such a big meeting in their history," he said.

Workers from Springhill Infrastructure Ltd., the Fredericton company that asked for a piece of land near Estey's Bridge be rezoned from an agricultural and residential area to an industrial area, drew attention in letters to the jobs the rezoning would create.

Of the 256 letters the regional service commission received, 55 opposed the quarry and 201 supported it.

According to Shawna Hazlett, the letters supporting the quarry were "a template letter sent by Springhill to all his employees and family" who don't live in this area.

The minister has until Nov. 18 to make a decision on the quarry.