The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) has given the green light to a contentious expansion proposal for the Nelson Aggregates quarry, despite facing opposition from the City of Burlington, environmental organizations, and local residents over the years. Situated in rural north Burlington, the quarry is positioned between Cedar Springs Road and Guelph Line on 2 Sideroad, close to the Mount Nemo Conservation Area within the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO biosphere reserve housing a diverse array of plant and animal species.
Following the approval of the quarry expansion on Tuesday, city officials and opponents expressed disappointment and renewed apprehension. In contrast, Nelson Aggregates welcomed the decision, emphasizing its importance in ensuring a steady supply of high-quality aggregate to support the region’s growth while also delivering long-term benefits to the community and environment, as stated by Quinn Moyer, the company’s president.
The OLT, in its ruling, acknowledged that Nelson had adequately addressed concerns raised by the City, the Region, and CORE/PERL through its site plan drawings and adaptive management plan. One of the opposing groups, Conserving Our Rural Ecosystems and Protecting Escarpment Rural Land (CORE/PERL), voiced extreme disappointment at the tribunal’s decision to approve the expansion, citing potential environmental and safety hazards.
Despite objections, the OLT deemed the quarry expansion a judicious use of mineral aggregate resources, striking a balance in the public interest. However, CORE/PERL raised concerns about air emissions, water contamination risks, and safety issues related to blasting and flyrock, emphasizing a lack of assurance in the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to enforce standards effectively.
Environmental lawyer David Donnelly, representing CORE/PERL, underscored the importance of scrutinizing the credibility of Nelson’s evidence, especially in light of past reports from the Auditor General criticizing MNR’s oversight of aggregate resource management. The City of Burlington also expressed disappointment in the decision, citing concerns about potential impacts on the environment, wildlife, groundwater, and community well-being near the quarry.
Moving forward, Nelson Aggregates affirmed its commitment to partnering with stakeholders for the successful implementation of the project. The company outlined plans to rehabilitate the quarry and expansion lands post-extraction, converting them into publicly accessible parkland and open space under Conservation Halton’s stewardship.
