Harrison Hot Springs residents fear quarry would harm tourism
Harrison Hot Springs residents are worried a rock quarry proposed for a nearby mountainside will keep visitors away.
More than 1,500 people have signed a petition asking the Ministry of Mines to turn down an application by TC Merritt Valley Farms to remove about 120,000 tonnes of sand and gravel each year from a seven-hectare site near the highway into the popular tourism destination.
“In six days, we got more signatures than the population of Harrison,” said resident Michie Vidal.
The petition was presented in the legislature in late April. An online petition also received about 3,000 signatures. There is no timeline for the ministry to make a decision on the quarry application.
Residents have several concerns about the proposal, said Village of Harrison Hot Springs Mayor Leo Facio. “From a tourism point of view, it’s not desirable. It’s about 2.5 kilometres from the entrance to the village.”
Dust and noise from blasting and crushing are a concern, as well as the environmental impact on a stream at the base of the proposed quarry, which drains into the Miami River.
Facio said the two-lane highway into Harrison Hot Springs is not adequate for truck traffic, especially with a planned bike lane that would connect the village to neighbouring Agassiz. About 10 trucks a day are expected to leave the quarry, said the mayor.
About 600,000 tourists visit the village each year to enjoy Harrison Lake or soak in the mineral pools.
The District of Kent, which would be home to the mine, has decided to remain neutral on the application. Postmedia was not able to reach TC Merritt Valley Farms for comment.
In April, the province denied an application for a quarry on Sumas Mountain in Abbotsford after the proposal met with opposition from local governments, trail users and environmentalists.