[All] LRT passes/Melancthon Article/ WEEAC update.

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi folks!
LRT passed. KW Record article here:http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/548544--lrt-supporters-celebrate
CKCO coverage here:http://swo.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110615/waterloo-region-rapid-transit-lrt-vote-110615/20110615/?hub=SWOHome
Melancthon Article: GREN linkedHere is an article in regards to the proposed highland quarry in Melancthon that was just published online at this link. Gave a plug for GREN during the interview and she was kind enough to give a hyperlink to the GREN website.  http://waterloo.openfile.ca/waterloo/file/2011/06/melancthon-quarry-could-impact-waterloo-region
Ignite Waterloo:The Ignite Waterloo lecture went well tonight. The topic I spoke on was Quarries and the Waterloo Moraine. Lots of folks came up to speak afterwards including a relative of former GRCA chair Peter Krause. We exchanged emails and I'll be sending info to Mr. Krause on the subject of Melancthon in the near future. Also the lady who wrote the Melancthon article wants to do another article regarding the presentation I gave tonight. I'll keep you updated.
WEEAC & MELANCTHONThe WEEAC meeting regarding the Highland quarry went very well. Data was provided buy NDACT rep. Carl Coswick and I. He presented a video of the situation of the potato farmers and I presented both hard copy and digital versions of the Melancthon power point along with the US Geological Survey's article regarding the risk of quarries in Karst. I also gave them the link to Hunter and Associate's website featuring letters from groups/individuals opposing the quarry. If anyone would like to submit additional information for WEEAC's consideration on this subject the contact person is Environmental Promotion Officer Anna Marie Cipriani. Her email is: AnnaMarie.cipriani at waterloo.ca.
During the WEEAC meeting, some of the members voiced the fact that the Highland Quarry was not known to them prior to the WEEAC meeting. They like many others hearing about this, were shocked at the sheer magnitude of the project. Council member Mark Whaley stated we really need to raise the profile of this issue in our community. We need the public aware of this. (He looked right at me as he said that. Not much of a subtle hint there.)  After the meeting I spoke with Carl from NDACT and they are willing to send folks here to spread the world on the matter but technically speaking, they admitted they do not have a firm grasp on the technical details of the hydrogeology issues although they know it is one of their strongest arguments. The members of NDACT are made up mostly of concerned residents who are comfortable speaking of the impacts to agriculture more than ground water.  Here in Waterloo, we've got a wealth of water expertise to help fill in
 the gaps.
In order for us to best serve the people of Melancthon, we need to create a media event. It has to be something creative and spectacular, a  great visual that the press won't want to ignore. By establishing that, we can secure press coverage and get the message out on what is happening. I'm open to any/all suggestions. Question is, would GREN be interested in taking on the task of getting this issue more press coverage via some sort of public awareness event? 
Lulu :0)



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20110615/11ad4d86/attachment.html>