Melancthon residents opposing a proposed 2,400-acre quarry will get an opportunity get the facts on the processes involved, along with the implications, when township council holds a public meeting in Honeywood Arena's Norduff Room next Monday, Oct. 5.

The two-hour meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m., will feature speakers from four provincial ministries, the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and township planner Jerry Jorden.

A 30-minute question period will follow the speeches, but questions are to be confined to the processes.

There is unlikely to be any stone left unturned in this public information session. The ministries include Municipal Affairs and Housing (with jurisdiction over Official Plans), Natural Resources, Environment, and OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs).

At recent council meetings, the gallery appeared pleasantly surprised to learn that township council has been assembling a team of professionals to review whatever studies The Highland Companies brings forth in support of its planned quarry application, and also to hear that the council does not support a huge extraction of limestone below the water table.

The NDACT (North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce) request for a Special Crops Designation for Honeywood loam was also being taken seriously by the council, and Councillor Janice Elliot was talking to consultants as well as seeking direction from OMAFRA.

Highland has yet to file its necessary application for zoning changes. The property in question is already designated aggregate extractive in accordance with a provincial edict dating back more than 20 years, but is not zoned for mining.

On Wednesday, Highland spokesman Michael Daniher confirmed in a phone interview that the company has said it would be filing within three to six months, and its stated time is approaching.