TIRED OF THE TRAFFIC
Community meeting called with Donkin Mine officials expected to attend
Meeting called over Donkin Mine environment and safety concerns.
A Port Morien resident says Donkin mine jobs are not a fair trade off for their environment, safety and roads.
“Yes, we want the jobs but we don’t want the degradation of our community and we don’t want the degradation of our highways,” said LeRoy Peach, a member of the Port Morien Development Association.
Peach said the trucks hauling coal from Donkin Mine are causing concerns and ruining the roads.
“Who’s going to pay for the degraded highways? In the imperfect trade off between jobs and the environment, tax-payers could be paying plenty over the next 30 years.”
Peach said through a discussion with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal he discovered Kameron Collieries was exempt from the spring weight restrictions, which is detrimental to the roads.
As well, he said, Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal has plans to widen and strengthen Long Beach Road and Highway 255 for continuous trucking.
“The huge trucks carrying coal cannot turn properly at the monument in Port Morien and therefore they have degraded the pavement on both sides of the highway.”
District 8 Coun. Amanda McDougall said calls from people upset over coal transportation are constant. As a result, she has organized a community meeting to be held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Port Morien on May 30 at 6:30 p.m.
McDougall said she has invited officials from the Donkin Mine as well as provincial and municipal politicians. Issues will include the coal trucks, safety and the proposed coal road.
“Enough is enough. I simply don’t have answers and I want to have answers for people,” she said.
As well, McDougall said, she has sent an invitation to officials with Seaboard Transport — they haul the Donkin coal — who she met with while in Halifax for a meeting on solid waste.
“What an informative meeting that was, to understand all the safety precautions they put in place and measures to track their drivers and loads,” she said.
“I invited them to come to also speak with residents as well but don’t have confirmation yet.”
McDougall said she knows it’s a bit of a gamble to simply book a meeting and expect mine officials and politicians to show up, but the community didn’t want to wait another year.
“I decided I’d simply set a date and pull a meeting together.”
Donkin Mine vice-president Shannon Campbell said he will be attending the meeting.
“I’m hoping all the groups will be there so the discussion can be useful for everyone,” he said.
Claude Peach of Long Beach Road was happy to hear about the community meeting and said he’ll be there.
In an article in the Cape Breton Post in May 2017, he expressed concerns on the coal truck traffic.
He said nothing has changed from what they were experiencing a year ago.
“There was supposed to be a coal road built behind Glace Bay and through No. 11 coming out behind the Sydney airport, but no one knows the status of it at this time,” he said.
“I don’t know if they also plan to build one on our end in Donkin. These are things we’d like to raise at the meeting.”
Paul Carrigan, chair of the Donkin Mine Community Liaison Committee, said they do hear concerns about the coal truck traffic.
“It’s an issue the CLC (Donkin Mine Community Liaison Committee) is concerned about as well.”
Carrigan said they are fully behind residents’ concerns regarding coal truck traffic on Long Beach Road.
“We are behind Mr. (Claude) Peach, we can only do so much but we support his initiative and would like to see that taken care of.”
Carrigan said the province has told him they were going to do work to the Long Beach Road, including making it wider and more suitable for heavy-duty equipment.
“We are waiting to hear on this,” he said. “The way I see it it’s a provincial matter that has to be dealt with. The CLC (Donkin Mine Community Liaison Committee) can only ask that the community is protected and feels safe.”
Carrigan said the liaison committee met with Donkin Mine officials about a month ago and are due for another meeting soon.
In the meantime, Carrigan said, some of their members will be at the community meeting.
Marla MacInnis, a spokesperson with Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, said the department is aware traffic on the roads has increased since Donkin Mine began transporting coal and understand the concerns of residents.
“We are looking at ways to upgrade that road.”
Ron Peach, also a member of the Port Morien Development Association, said residents are concerned about the coal truck traffic and they aren’t hearing anything from the Donkin Mine.
Ron Peach, who plans to attend the meeting, said Long Beach Road and Highway 255 to Dearn’s Corner are not suitable for coal trucks.
“They just seem to be happy with the way things are and aren’t making concessions for anyone,” he said. “I think most people have given up complaining because nothing is changing.”