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'" ,~t ~ rooWeekly limes, WXednesday, Decemnber 2,-0, 1995 - 19 w-- I1 -9 - St. Mary's Cernent: A Partner For A Better Community by Lamna Miller At night St. Mary's Cernent Plant hovers an the north edge of Lake Ontario,, sauth of the 401, gleaming like a fantastic space city warthy of the imagi- nation of the Star trek creators. By day the drab cancrete silos rise above a plant which extracts materials for the mak- ing of cernent from the ground by underground blastmng. This blasting has upset res- idents of. Bowmanville as the shock waves can be felt in sub- divisions north of the 401. St. Mary 's blasts an an average of one day per week on an -as needed" basis. 1 The wholly canadian-owned Corporation has operated in the area since 1967. Yet as H.J. Schell, T.Q.M. Facilitator with the Corporation says, "We're still treated like newcomers ta the area.' Duri ng the 30 years the Corporation has been extracting cernent components from the graund, the residents of the beach area have been in con- tention with their actions, legal thaugh it may be. These fears that the rnarsh areas cauld be changed forever had sparked the Corporation ta, hald open houses hosted by rnany experts who tiied ta calm the residents fears over--the years. Hawever, bath the Corporation and the residents were_ gratefùl for the interven- tion of 'the Waterfront Re generation Trust which acted as a mediatar in negotiatians between St. Mary's, the resi- dents, and the Municipality of Clarington. "We were glad ta, have the Trust present at the meetings" says J. Wilson littie, P. Engîneer and Director of Engineering with St. Mary's. "They acted as a buffer and allowed us ta camne ta a satis- factory solution ta the prob- lems." St. Mary's has a valid licence ta quarry the marsh under the 1974 Pits and Quarrys Act which is updated every four years and the ministry of Natural Resouirces checks ta make sure that they are acting within the limnits of thîs plan. Yet the lîfe of the rnarsh was in danger. Through the meet- ings a solution was worked out that Mr. John Williams,, Employee Relations Supervisor, says is, "a goad co mpromise, one we can live with." St. Mary's has agreed ta move the CBM stone crushing and redimix aperation on Waverly Road ta an industrial site provided by Clarington within two years; make avail- able lands for the creation of a connection between wetlands; build a berm ta protect Cave Road residents from the blast- ing noise and connected extrac- tion removal operations; move its "Iimit of extraction" line ta provide for the retained portion of Westside Marsh, divert the Westside Creek, and make avallable other land ta create a community controlled parkland from Waverly Road ta the Bowmanville Marsh, over 120 acres in total. These concessions ta the wishes of the Trust, residents, and the Municipality will came at a hîgh cost which has yet ta be totalled. "This is a compromise in which ahl parties will have ta bear some cost," says ,Mr. Williams. However., after the smoke cleared and tempers calmed, St. Mary's believes that it has cre- ated improved relations with the Munîcipality and the resi- dents through this two year process. "There has been a positive response ta St. Mary's among the business community in Bowmanville and an increased number of citizens who now see us in a better light." Now they are eagerly await- ing the response from the Municipality ta the proposition put farward by the Trust. St. Mary's will be allowed ta exca- vate a portion of Waverly Road, and the Municipality will have ta build a bridge ta connect Cedar Crest and Cave Roads ta provide residents a new access route. ' This could be costly ta the Municipality according ta Councillor Pat Pingle. But with any compromise situation, the price of peace must be paid. "In the long run, it is a plan that will benefit all parties and provide parkland, a regenerated marsh with Improved water quaiity, engende-r a fish habi- tat and Ripaiian ecosystem and retain a greater portion of the natural marsh," says Mr. Wilson. "And tmplementing Waverly Road mrill keep us in business into the 2040's.- "If adopted, this could be the plan which saves the marsh and provides a much-needed parkland space for future gen- erations. But, ta reap the ben- efits, there will be costs ta bear by al] parties. Stili cheýa pe than a .cupIof The Orono .Weekly Times Your Small Town Newspaper. (it f oe peace and brotherhood this Christmas. .-We express our thanks to everyone ( for their support in 1995. L.s.from the Grundy Family a Grundy's Country UpJholstery Toal our valued customers we offer aur gratitude and good wse for a happy holiday season. From Rita and Nick and the Staff at The Donut Gallery WhaLAbut Pictures? Cali Freeze Frame Photography For Ail Your Photographic Needs * Weddings * Glamour * Boudoir * amily Portraits * Irsurarice Packages * »Special Everits Cail Kate at 983-6296 (Happenngs.. Christmas Concert There will be a Chrstmas Concert this Friday, December 22nd at the Orona Town Hall beginning at 7:30 p.m. The concert is being presented by the friends of Bemnie Martin. Admission is $2.00 per persan or $1 .00 if you bring a donation for the food .bank. Free Skate December-24 xiii see a free skate for everyhody af the Orono Arena from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Corne on aut; Santa will be there before he has ta leave and get ready for the big day. Sponsared by the Orano Firefighters Association. New~ Year's Eve Dance ickets are still available far the Kinsmen's New Year's Eve Dance. Tickets are available at the Ganaraska Leathercraft Tradlng-Past, 983-9540 or 983-6042. Orono Town H~all Euchre resuits Euchre results for Wed., Dec. 13 - High scores Wanda McNeil 78; Robert Bubar 76; Lamna Crockett, Carla Meuleman and, Doreen Lowery each with 75. Low score Shirley Cappinig. Draw winners Marie Couroux, Maron Scars, May Tabb, Olive Little, Marian Staples, Shirley Bubar, Hazel Pigott, Marilyn Martin, Shirley Copplng, George Mercer, Shirley Gardon, Aleck Moffat, Alice Hooey, Bill Grady, Wanda McNeil, Grace Coatham and Charles Campbell. Euchre is held every Wednesday, 8 p.m.' Lnch provided.