The proposed Freymond-Fowler quarry has spent significant time assuring the public that blasting will only occur 3 to 5 times a year. This is supposed to make us feel better about the noise from blasting.

But keep in mind that once Freymond and Fowler get their aggregate license for this location near Bancroft, ON, they could start to blast more – you won’t get a chance to vote then.

Worse, if aggregate policies change as per Ford’s government’s secret aggregate meeting and the MNR’s joint campaign to “remove the red tape [for the aggregate industry]” you could be in for limitless noise while you’re on your dock entertaining or just trying to live your life.

Further, what is also unaccounted for – and of major noise pollution concern – is the noise of DRILLING.

Daily, you will hear the drilling and crushing of rocks. Add to that the noise of machines running and increased truck traffic noise. So even in the best case scenario where the Blasting is kept to a minimum, you – and the forest and aquatic life around you – are going to have the new sounds of Drilling, Crushing and a huge increase in Trucks in your life on the lake. And don’t forget sound carries over water.  

All of these common aggregate quarry noises could contribute seriously to daily and ongoing noise pollution.

Yet, this noise pollution has not been properly accounted for (other than an initial amount of small surrounding area noise) in the Freymond Fowler application. Doesn’t this sound like an oversight to you?

Why isn’t the Applicant, Freymond-Fowler, being asked to account for the noise of drilling, crushing and truck noise in their application? It’s definitely a gap that should concern you as to how well the rest of the application was scrutinized.

It’s also not clear what the impact will be to the surrounding wildlife from the noise on the proposed quarry.  Madeleine Marentette, owner of Grail Springs, Awarded Best Wellness Retreat in Canada 2016-2017-2017, has written publicly about how only many years after the Spurr Lake marble quarry closed did wildlife finally return to her 100 acre property for guests and residents to enjoy wildlife sightings again.

Do we want to go through scaring off wildlife again for the next 50 years – the proposed lifetime of the Freymond Fowler Quarry –  in all the surrounding forests of this Bancroft quarry?

My children and I stop and watch the white-spotted fawns on our Bay Lake neighbour’s lawn many months of the year. For the past two springs I have had the wonderful occurrence of spotting the deep purple-blues of an Indigo Bunting on his migration route on my favourite running route. Last year I also saw a Lynx (pretty sure he didn’t catch the Bunting! 😉

I’m good with the circle of life – but are we comfortable with potentially adversely affecting – or even interrupting – nature with noise for the next 50 years?

Help us protect your slice of perfection in Bancroft.

Help! We only have until end of June 2019 to fundraise all the expert opinions we need to show Hastings County that they have to demand more information to protect our freshwater supply, the environment, existing tourism businesses, and the many many year-round and seasonal residents safe from the next 50 years – the proposed lifetime of the Freymond/Fowler quarry. Donate to our GoFundMe page to help. If you require a tax receipt we’ve also set up NoSmallChange donation site just for you.

How Much Noise from the Proposed Bancroft Quarry will Bother You?