In August 2018, the Region became aware of an Aggregate Resources Act application to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) by James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL) for a new quarry at Reid Side Road and Twiss Road in Milton, to reactivate the former Woodlawn Guelph Campbellville Pit. JDCL has applied for a Class A Category 1 & 2 licence covering 29.4 hectares (73 acres) with an extraction area of 25.7 hectares (63.5 acres) for sand, gravel, and bedrock. The maximum annual tonnage is proposed to be 990,000 tonnes. No corresponding Planning Act applications have been filed. Halton Region, the Town of Milton, and Conservation Halton are participating in the Aggregate Resources Act application process managed by MNRF through a joint agency review team (JART) process.
In September 2018, the Region issued a Letter of Objection to the proponent and to MNRF (PDF file). The September 2018 Letter of Objection outlined twenty-four, high-level issues with the proposed application covering the following themes:
- The potential effects of the operation of the proposed pit and quarry on the environment have not been adequately addressed
- The potential effects of the operation of the proposed pit and quarry on nearby communities have not been adequately addressed
- The suitability of the progressive rehabilitation and final rehabilitation plans for the site have not been adequately addressed
- The potential effects on ground and surface water resources including on drinking water sources and private wells have not been adequately addressed
- Detailed consideration should be given to planning and land use matters
- Three miscellaneous issues
JDCL responded to Halton Region in a letter dated December 11, 2018. Staff provided an update to Halton Region Council at its meeting of March 27, 2019. The staff report provided a summary of the September Letter of Objection, as well as a reference map and JDCL’s reply to Halton’s September letter.
JDCL triggered a 20-day reply period in a letter dated April 29, 2019 (PDF file). Halton Region provided a reply letter within that period (PDF file), identifying that objections raised in September 2018 had not been resolved.
Halton, Milton, and Conservation Halton provided detailed comments through JART review to JDCL and MNRF on July 31, 2019. The cover letter summarizing key thematic issues with JDCL’s submission was supplemented by a detailed comment table prepared by staff and retained consultants.
JART staff from Halton Region, the Town of Milton and Conservation Halton has been assessing updated information that JDCL provided JART members as a response to their individual objections. JART has met with the proponent and are investigating the range of issues and objections raised by the organizations through the JART review process. This has resulted in updated information being posted to the proponent’s public website and a number of alterations to the proposed quarry, including a reduced scale of extraction and mitigation and contingency measures for quarrying. Conservation Halton, Town of Milton, and Halton Region continue to have ongoing objections to the proposed quarry as noted in their objection and response letters. Conversations with the proponent are ongoing as mandated by the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA).
This following documents contain technical input only and does not represent a Council position at this time:
A second letter from James Dick Construction Limited was received on November 26, 2020 (PDF file). Halton Region replied to that letter (PDF file) indicating that objections remained.
On January 29, 2021, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks posted to the Environmental Registry of Ontario a proposal to designate the project as an undertaking under the Environmental Assessment Act (external link). A joint submission of Halton Region, the Town of Milton, and Conservation Halton was made in response to the proposal (PDF file), identifying a number of key items and specific content requirements recommended for any environmental assessment, should one be approved. The submission was made conditional upon Council endorsement. (This page will be updated to reflect any direction from Regional Council.)
Halton Region and JART partners are currently reviewing updated information provided by JDCL in November 2020.
Staff Contact
The staff contact for this project is:
Joe Nethery, Manager of Community Planning
Planning Tel: 905-825-6000 Ext. 3035
Planning Fax: 905-825-8822
Toll-free Tel: 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866)
TTY: 905-827-9833