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Current Application
In August 2018, the Region became aware of an Aggregate Resources Act application to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry 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 together are participating in the Aggregate Resources Act application process managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry through a Joint Agency Review Team (JART) process. Halton Region, the Town of Milton, and Conservation Halton intend in participating in a future environmental assessment process that will be managed by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Provincial Environmental Assessment
At its meeting of September 11, 2019, Council adopted a resolution calling for a Provincial environmental assessment for the Reid Road Reservoir Quarry proposal (PDF file), to be led by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. On July 30, 2021, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks designated the proposed quarry as an undertaking under the Environmental Assessment Act (external link). This study places the proposed quarry into an additional approvals process through that Ministry as detailed in the Regulation approved by the Province (external link).
Halton Region, the Town of Milton, and Conservation Halton have been invited to participate in the Government Review Team to provide comment and input on technical information that would be produced by James Dick Construction Limited.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry have confirmed the Aggregate Resources Act process is now on hold, awaiting the outcome of the environmental assessment process. The environmental assessment has not yet been launched by James Dick Construction Limited. Updates will be provided should the project status change.
The JART agencies received JDCL’s complete reply to the May 2020 JART comments in November 2020:
This information was under review when the Provincial environmental assessment designation was applied.
Joint Agency Review Team (JART) Second Circulation (Complete)
JART staff from Halton Region, the Town of Milton and Conservation Halton reviewed updated information provided by JDCL in December 2019. JART has met with the proponent and investigated the range of issues and objections raised by the organizations through the JART review process. This resulted in updated information being posted to the proponent’s public website in 2020 and a number of alterations to the quarry proposal, including a reduced scale of extraction and mitigation and contingency measures for quarrying. Conversations with the proponent continued as mandated by the Aggregate Resources Act.
The following technical input represented JART’s second technical circulation of the proposal and did not represent Halton Regional Council's position:
Joint Agency Review Team (JART) First Circulation (Complete)
Halton Region, The Town of Milton and Conservation Halton provided detailed comments further to the April 2019 reply letters to JDCL and to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry 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. This concluded the JART’s first technical circulation on the proposal
Halton Region’s Response Letter under the Aggregate Resources Act Process
JDCL triggered the 20-day objector reply period under the Aggregate Resources Act process in a letter dated April 29, 2019 (PDF file). JDCL had not discussed issues with Halton Region prior to this step. Halton Region provided a reply letter within that period (PDF file), identifying that objections raised in September 2018 had not been resolved.
Halton Region 45-day Objection Letter
In September 2018, the Region issued a Letter of Objection to the proponent and to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (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 effects 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 24, 2019 (external link) (scroll to item 5 under Planning and Public Works). 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.
The staff contact for this project is:
Janice Hogg, Senior Project Manager (Aggregate)
Planning Fax: 905-825-8822
Toll-free Tel: 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866)
TTY: 905-827-9833