James Dick New “Hidden Quarry” Proposal, Rockwood
Location: north side of Highway 7 at the 6th Line, between Acton and Rockwood
James Dick Construction is seeking a zoning by-law amendment to pave the way for a new pit and quarry on 100 acres (39.4 ha) east of Rockwood. The company proposes to extract about 2 million tonnes (700,000 tonnes annually) of sand, gravel and dolostone from the site. The extraction would take place on 61 acres (25 ha) with extraction depth reaching 30 meters (98 ft) below the water table for a total of 50 meters (164 ft) from the surface.
The proposal is registered on Ontario’s Environmental Registry as #011-8511 (6-Mar-2013)
The opposition points out that nearly half the population of Rockwood lives within 2 kilometres of the site and says dynamite blasting at the quarry would crack nearby homes’ foundations, destroy wetlands, and contaminate water that livestock and crops need to survive. They also note that Highway 7 isn’t built for a large quantity of dump trucks. “They’ll be bringing 26 dump trucks each way per hour for the next 15-20 years and that’s 6am to 6pm.” Additionally, opponents worry that there are no assurances that James Dick Construction would compensate for any damages. (article)
Reasons to be concerned: (source)
1. Ground water contamination
2. Household well water levels lowered
3. Blasting damage and noise
4. Fly rock potential
5. Significant wetlands destroyed
6. Lower air quality
7. Property value decreased
8. Wildlife habitat destroyed
9. Haulage and traffic increased
10. Visual Impact
11. Cultural heritage lost
Approval Process
Zoning by-law amendment – Township of Woolwich
Guelph-Eramosa Township zoning by-law approval
Official plan amendment requested December 2016
MNR aggregate licence application – EBR #011-8511
Grand River Conservation Authority approval
Permit To Take Water
Sewage permit
Timeline
|
Date |
Event |
|
2012-12 |
JDCL applied for rezoning amendment for lands southeast of Rockwood – from agriculture to hazard land to extractive industrial – to make way for a proposed quarry. (source) |
|
2013-03-06 |
Application for licence under the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) (EBR Registry #011-8511) |
|
2013-03-25 |
Public meeting at Rockmosa Hall, Rockwood |
|
2013-04-08 |
Residents of Guelph-Eramosa, Milton, Erin and Halton Hills formed the Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) |
|
2013-04-15 |
Deadline for objections under the Aggregate Resources Act licence application |
|
2013-04-22 |
First community meeting in Eden Mills (100 people in attendance) |
|
2013-06-19 |
CRC meeting in Acton |
|
2014-02-10 |
Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) Meeting: Rockmosa Community Centre, 74 Christie, Rockwood. Contact CRC for more information |
|
2014-03-03 |
Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) Presentation to GET (Guelph Eramosa Township). Contact CRC for more information |
|
2014-03-17 |
Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) Presentation to GET (Guelph Eramosa Township). Contact CRC for more information |
|
2015-05 |
Application referred to the OMB (article) |
|
2015-09-10 |
Guelph_Eramosa Township special council meeting regarding a staff report on the Hidden Quarry |
|
2015-09-15 |
Guelph_Eramosa Township public meeting |
|
2015-10-07 |
Guelph_Eramosa Township receiving public comments until Sept-25, for decision at Oct-7th meeting |
|
2015-11-09 |
Ontario Municipal Board prehearing at Guelph Eramosa municipal building (source) |
|
2016-03-01 |
Ontario Municipal Board 2nd preliminary hearing (article) |
|
2016-09-27 |
OMB hearing scheduled to start (source) |
|
2016-09-29 |
OMB hearing adjourns (article) – postponed due to JDCL application under old 2012 zoning bylaw |
|
2016-12 |
Proponent requests official plan amendment under new 2016 zoning bylaw |
|
2017-06 |
Proponent appeals to OMB based on non-decisions by local government |
|
2017-11-02 |
OMB pre-hearing conference (update) |
|
|
Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) to review application (2nd file) with new information from proponent. Wellington County, Guelph-Eramosa (GET) and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) decisions pending GRCA review. |
|
2019-03-25 |
Municipal neighbour, Town of Halton Hills, reinforced it’s opposition to the proposal (source) |
|
2019-05-21 |
Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) hearing scheduled to begin. (source) |
|
2020-02-19 |
Extraction approved by LPAT (article) |
News (reverse chronological order)
|
Date |
Source |
Title |
Comment |
|
2020-02-19 |
sg.crcrockwood.org |
dwebster |
|
|
2020-02-19 |
sg.crcrockwood.org |
Rob Jowett |
|
|
2019-03-27 |
Theifpa.ca |
Halton Hills vows to continue to fight new quarry near town border |
Herb Garbutt |
|
2019-03-20 |
Wellington Advertiser |
Quarry opponents proclaim ‘future flyrock danger zone’ on Highway 7 |
Phil Gravelle |
|
2018-10-05 |
Wellington Advertiser |
Rockwood Quarry hot topic at second Guelph-Eramosa all candidates meeting |
Jaime Myslik |
|
2018-08-31 |
Wellington Advertiser |
Jaime Myslik |
|
|
2017-11-10 |
Wellington Advertiser |
|
|
|
2017-07-14 |
Wellington Advertiser |
Jaime Myslik |
|
|
2016-10-13 |
CBC |
Ontario Municipal Board hearing into Hidden Quarry adjourned |
|
|
2016-09-28 |
Wellington Advertiser |
Zoning bylaw issue may result in long delay for OMB quarry hearing |
Jaime Myslik |
|
2016-09-29 |
GuelphToday.com |
Rob O’Flanagan |
|
|
2016-07-25 |
Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) |
Milton Council endorses Halton Region’s Opposition to Hidden Quarry Proposal |
|
|
2016-07-13 |
Guelph Today |
Guelph-Eramosa gives $70,000 to help oppose gravel pit at OMB |
Tony Saxon |
|
2016-06-29 |
Wellington Advertiser |
Guelph-Eramosa opts out of OMB quarry fight, gives CRC $70,000 |
Jaime Myslik |
|
2016-06-15 |
Youtube / CRC Rockwood Hidden Quarry |
|
|
|
2016-05-02 |
theIFP.ca |
OMB pre-hearing for Acton-area Hidden Quarry taking place Thursday |
|
|
2016-04-08 |
Youtube / CRC |
CRC |
|
|
2016-02-23 |
CTV Kitchener News |
|
|
|
2015-10-16 |
Wellington Advertiser |
Jaime Myslik |
|
|
2015-10-08 |
Guelph Mercury |
Guelph/Eramosa Township will oppose Hidden Quarry proposal at Ontario Municipal Board |
Wellington Advertiser |
|
2015-09-29 |
InsideHalton.com |
Rachael Williams |
|
|
2015-09-17 |
theIFP.ca |
Melanie Hennessey |
|
|
2015-09-04 |
Wellington Advertiser |
Consultant recommends ‘in-principle’ approval of quarry bylaw amendment |
|
|
2015-08-26 |
Theifp.ca |
Town of Halton Hills to ask Province for more stringent review process on quarries |
Melanie Hennessey |
|
2015-08-25 |
CHCH |
|
|
|
2015-08-06 |
Wellington Advertiser |
‘Hidden quarry’ blasting could lead to higher radon levels: CRC |
|
|
2015-06-08 |
Youtube / CRC Rockwood Hidden Quarry |
William Hill |
|
|
2015-06-03 |
Inside Halton |
Halton residents opposing quarry in nearby Guelph-Eramosa township |
Rachel Williams |
|
2015-06-02 |
CTV Kitchener |
|
|
|
2015-05-29 |
Wellington Advertiser |
Jaime Myslik |
|
|
2015-05-25 |
Guelph Mercury |
Vik Kirsch vkirsch@guelphmercury.com |
|
|
2015-05-15 |
TheIFP.ca |
Halton Region Council backs mayor on seeking quarry policy amendment |
Cynthia Gamble |
|
2015-04-20 |
TheIFP.ca |
Town Council seeking change to provincial aggregate policy for new quarries |
|
|
2015-03-13 |
Wellington Advertiser |
‘Hidden quarry’ gateway to more pits?: Opponents fear many more proposals coming |
Jaime Myslik |
|
2015-03-01 |
Guelph Mercury |
Vik Kirsch
|
|
|
2015-02-24 |
Guelph Mercury |
Municipal board fight seems certain over Hidden Quarry east of Guelph |
Rob O’Flanagan |
|
2014-09-18 |
Guelph Mercury |
Joanne Shuttleworth |
|
|
2013-08 |
1000 Trees |
Linda Sword, Doug Tripp |
|
|
2013-04-10 |
Guelph Mercury |
Vik Kirsch |
|
|
2013-04-08 |
Citizen Action Monitor |
Southern Ontario residents quick to organize in response to “Hidden Quarry” proposal |
Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC)
|
|
2013-02-08 |
Wellington Advertiser |
Company proposing below-water-table extraction at quarry is in for ‘a long fight’ |
Chris Daponte |
Further information can be found at:
Proponents:
James Dick Construction (www.jamesdick.com)
Opposition:
Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) (www.crcrockwood.org) / facebook: “Concerned Residents Coalition-No Hidden Quarry”
Contact: www.hiddenquarry.ca
CRC is a citizen organization representing the interests of communities that may be affected by operations of the proposed Hidden Quarry, including Guelph-Eramosa Township, the Village of Rockwood, Halton Hills, Milton and Halton Region.
Youtube video introduction - CRC Rockwood Hidden Quarry Overview by Residents
Halton Region (www.halton.ca) Link to information
Return to AWARE-Ontario.ca Home Page
List of Ontario’s Issues
Disclaimer: This information has been compiled through private amateur research for the purpose of allowing the reader to make an informed and educated decision. However, while the information is believed to be reliable, accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
APPENDICES
APPENDIX B
James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL) has proposed a quarry on a 100-acre property at the north east corner of Highway 7 and the 6th Line Eramosa. The property is one kilometre from the southern neighbourhoods of Rockwood, and as close as 165 metres from homes and buildings on Eramosa 6th and 7th lines and those at the north end of Nassagaweya 5th line in Milton. Nearly half the population of Rockwood lives within 2 kilometres of the site. If mined the quarry would blast 23 metres below the water table in the Paris Galt Moraine, a water recharge area so important to the Greater Golden Horseshoe that it is being considered for inclusion in the Greenbelt expansion. The Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) are raising funds to stop the “Hidden Quarry” and the destruction of yet another area of the Niagara Escarpment.
James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL) has proposed a quarry on a 100-acre property from which nearly half the population of Rockwood lives within 2 kilometres. The property is part of the Paris Galt Moraine, a water recharge area so important to the Greater Golden Horseshoe that it is being considered for inclusion in the Greenbelt expansion. The Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) are raising funds to stop the “Hidden Quarry” and the destruction of yet another area of the Niagara Escarpment.
A terrific show written by Dan Needles starring Rod Beattie. The evening is a fund-raising event for the Concerned Residents Coalition and their fight to stop "The Hidden Quarry". Nearly half the residents of Rockwood lives within 2 kms of the proposed quarry site -- some homes as close as 165 metres. The proposed site is Niagara Escarpment on the Paris Galt Moraine.