Protesters block construction at Wakefield sand pit
Posted Jun 13, 2012 09:23:40 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
WAKEFIELD, Que. – The sand pit in Wakefield has become the site of a demonstration as residents cry foul over the work on the Highway 5 extension.
Hundreds of truck-loads of marine clay have been dumped into the sand pit each day from the construction. As well, tons of sand is being excavated from the pit, located on Rockhurst Road and Highway 105.
Protestors have blocked dump trucks from unloading clay in the pit, which is seen as a filter for the water supply in Wakefield and La Peche.
Bettina Koschade is one of the protesters at the site.
“We want to put pressure on the Ministry of Environment of Quebec and Stéphanie Vallée, to enforce the stop work order that the Ministry of Environment issued about two weeks ago,” Bettina told 1310News.
Protesters said both the Quebec Environment Ministry and Municipality of LaPeche have ordered the MTQ contractors, Couillard Construction, to stop work, dumping, but that the excavating continues unabated.
A meeting is being held Wednesday to resolve the dispute.
