L’Orignal residents present early case against Colacem plant

A group of L'Orignal citizens, represented by resident Charles Despins, presented themselves at the Champlain Township council chambers last Wednesday, November 9 to voice their concerns about the proposed Colacem cement plant.

Despins told council the number of residents opposed to the plant has grown significantly since Colacem held an open house on October 13.

He noted a few hundred people, including almost all of the residents along Bay Road residents, have signed a petition opposing the Colacem cement plant on County Road 17 - as well as "the expansion of any heavy or polluting industry" in the township.

Colacem has yet to submit an application for a zoning change, and will not do so until it receives approval from the provincial Ministry of the Environment.

Nevertheless, Despins said it was important to express these concerns to the council as soon as possible.

"We have serious concerns related to air, water, noise and visual pollution, as well as the health and property-value impacts of such pollution," he said. "We worry and foresee that we will suffer health and financial prejudice, irrespective of any plans to be put forth with respect to environmental standards."

Despins said the type of industrial operation proposed by Colacem is "incompatible" with the proposed location.

"This debate is ultimately not about a cement plant proposal, it's really about the future of the community itself," he continued. "If we accept this proposal, more heavy industry proposals will come along in the future and we fear that we'll be transformed into a large, heavy-industry zone."

The resident said the group is requesting an alternate development plan to be put forth, "one that does not involve heavy industry."

"We trust that our elected municipal representatives will abide by the wishes of the population, and reflect this in their decisions and votes at council," Despins concluded.