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Letter: Bamberton quarry proposal concerning

No one can safely predict the impact of this land use change on the future viability of the land
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Bamberton quarry proposal concerning

I find the published quarry development application #0800407 for the Bamberton land very concerning.

Malahat Investment Corporation has applied to the Ministry of Mines to mine a total of 9.58 million tonnes of rock over 20 years. Mining activities will take place approximately 300 days per year. Crushing, screening and pneumatic/hydraulic rock work, product sales and shipping will be seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with 24 hour operation when necessary.

The proposed area is not on the reserve but a steep mountainside just off the Malahat Highway. Four streams flow through the land to be quarried carrying contamination directly into Saanich Inlet. Plus, this proposed increased industry will greatly increase heavy truck traffic on the Malahat Highway with the clear cutting and blasting a source of further erosion. Dust and noise pollution, already a problem from this site, will spread for many kilometers and further destroy the natural beauty of the Saanich Inlet and surrounding area. No one can safely predict the impact of this land use change on the future viability of the land and the threatened ecosystem that is Saanich Inlet.

Five previous development proposals for this site, including Malahat Investment Corporation’s LNG plant, have been turned down as a result of public and government concern over the environmental impact on the land and Saanich Inlet.

I urge anyone who finds this application concerning to email southwestminesdivision@gov.bc.ca (#0800407 in the subject line).

Maureen Alexander

Mill Bay