Estey’s Bridge residents fuming over rock quarry, worried about proposal for another

ESTEY’S BRIDGE, N.B. – Residents along Royal Road just north of Fredericton are calling on New Brunswick’s Environment Minister to answer questions they have about a rock quarry built near their homes.

They’re also worried about a proposal for another quarry in the area.

“We would like to talk to the Minister of Environment. He doesn’t seem to want to talk to us,” said resident Gerry McQuinn.

“It’s a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. operation. Our lifestyle has changed here because of all the noise. We’re scared of the dust because we’ve been told that it is toxic because it has silica in it.”

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Since April 2014, about 70 residents along Royal Road have been working on their case against the quarry.

They say the process was shoddy, it moved along too quickly and didn’t take into account resident’s concerns.

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Citizens did voice their concerns at a single public hearing on April 23 to the Regional Service Commission.

McQuinn says after the meeting residents heard nothing until then-Minister of Environment, Danny Soucy, approved the quarry on June 27, 2014.

“Some people have dust covering their homes, some people have dust in their teeth even,” said Nathaniel Purcell, another resident along Royal Road.

Purcell said he tried to sell his home, but the value has decreased dramatically because of the quarry.

“Where are you Brian Kenny? Where are you Brian Gallant? We would like to have a sit down with you, we would like to show you some of the documentation about what life living next to a quarry is,” he said.

Global News asked for an interview with the Kenny on Friday. The department sent a statement:

“Department staff have met with residents on a number of occasions to discuss their concerns and will continue to be available. While the quarry is operating within the conditions of its approval, the department is working with the company to address nuisance dust issues.”

‘We’d be trapped’ : Commission gathering information on another quarry

Homeowners say the quarry has brought so much noise, dust and truck traffic, they can’t imagine another quarry doubling the impact.

“We can hardly go outside now because of the noise from the other one. If there’s one right across the road we’d be trapped in our home and even then, we’d still hear it,” said Ivy Thomson, who’s home overlooks the possible spot for another quarry.

Jennifer Graham, spokesperson for the Department of Environment, confirmed that the Regional Service Commission is in the early stages of gathering information on a rezoning application for another rock quarry.

But she added that no decision has been made.

“It’s 2015, not 1915,” said Thomson. “I mean people shouldn’t have to put up to something this close to their homes. There are rural, isolated parts of the province where there are no people where I’m sure there’s quarriable material that they can use and not disrupt the lives of people.”