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

Extraction Approved – Novæ Res Urbis

dwebster

2020-02-19

sg.crcrockwood.org

Extraction Approved

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

‘Hidden quarry’ opponents speak out at council

Jaime Myslik

2017-11-10

Wellington Advertiser

OMB holds first pre-hearing conference for proposed quarry

 

2017-07-14

Wellington Advertiser

‘Hidden Quarry’ again appealed to Ontario Municipal Board

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

Hidden Quarry hearing adjourns

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

(CRC media release)

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

Why Stop The Hidden Quarry? (5 mins)

 

2016-05-02

theIFP.ca

OMB pre-hearing for Acton-area Hidden Quarry taking place Thursday

 

2016-04-08

Youtube / CRC

Interview with Dr. Alex Kanarek and Leanne Monaghan

CRC

2016-02-23

CTV Kitchener News

Concerned Residents ready for fight against Rockwood quarry

 

2015-10-16

Wellington Advertiser

Guelph-Eramosa to advise OMB it opposes quarry application

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

Milton council backs groups efforts to stop quarry proposal

Rachael Williams

2015-09-17

theIFP.ca

Residents, CRC give resounding no to Hidden Quarry proposal

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

Halton Hills residents worry about new quarry

 

2015-08-06

Wellington Advertiser

‘Hidden quarry’ blasting could lead to higher radon levels: CRC

 

2015-06-08

Youtube / CRC Rockwood Hidden Quarry

CRC Rockwood Hidden Quarry Overview by Residents (7 mins)

William Hill

2015-06-03

Inside Halton

Halton residents opposing quarry in nearby Guelph-Eramosa township

Rachel Williams

2015-06-02

CTV Kitchener

Newsclip:  Rockwood proposed quarry

 

2015-05-29

Wellington Advertiser

Quarry application to go to OMB

Jaime Myslik

2015-05-25

Guelph Mercury

Controversial Guelph-Eramosa quarry proposal headed to OMB

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

Residents urged to protect area drinking water

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

Fighting against quarries can be Goliath battle

Joanne Shuttleworth

2013-08  

1000 Trees

Rocks, Water and Climate Change (.pdf)

Linda Sword, Doug Tripp

2013-04-10

Guelph Mercury

Residents’ group opposes Rockwood quarry proposal

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

 

 

 

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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

 

https://awareontario.nfshost.com/AWARE-Ontario/Issues/Aggregate_JD%20Rockwood/JD%20Rockwood%20Overview.htm

 

 

 

 

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.