Extension granted for quarry comments

Monday, May 16, 2011

by PAT CURRIE

The Grand River Conservation Authority and Guelph have joined a number of municipalities and agencies seeking an extension on the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources’ deadline to file resolutions and comments opposing the establishment of a megaquarry near Melancthon, about six kilometres northwest of Shelburne in Dufferin County.

Mayor Bill Hill of Melancthon Township appeared at a GCRA board committee meeting April 14 asking for, and receiving the authority’s endorsement of his township’s request that the original April 26 deadline be extended.

The Highland Companies have applied to operate a large quarry in the township on a 2,300-hectare site immediately east of the boundary between the Grand River and Nottawasaga Valley watersheds.

Although the quarry proposed lies outside the Grand River watershed, the conservation authority said it wanted more time to study its impact on the headwaters of the Grand River. Other opponents have cited dangers to the headwaters of the Nottawasaga, Saugeen and Mad rivers which all rise in the same area.

Conservation Authority staff submitted comments to the applicant and the ministry on the April 26 deadline but asked for more time to review the submission and seek additional information from Highland.

On May 5, Guelph added its voice to the chorus opposing the April 26 deadline, partly on grounds that it fell too close to Easter weekend (April 22-25).

Anti-quarry activist Carl Cosack, a Dufferin farmer, described the deadline as "totally unrealistic."

The ministry has since extended the deadline to July 11. BF