Proposed quarry would use 2,400 acres, public told

The quarry proposed by The Highland Companies in Melancthon would affect about 2,400 acres or nearly one-third of the property owned by the company in the township, a well attended open house at Horning's Mills heard last Saturday.

The gathering was "a great exchange of ideas," said Highland president John Lowndes in a phone interview Monday. The people "wanted to learn. We tried to give all the answers we could."

North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT) members might not have taken exactly the same view. Their consultant, Garry Hunter, declined to comment for publication as he said he would be writing his report.

On Tuesday, NDACT member Ralph Armstrong, who farms close to the proposed quarry area, said the presentations had outlined all of the positives. Highland representatives, however, had previously said more details had yet to be finalized.

According to the plans graphically displayed at the Community Hall and in a hand-out booklet, only 300 acres of the proposed 2,400 would be affected at any given time.

And then only 50 acres within each 300-acre tract would be subject to actively staged mining operations, as rehabilitation would be on a progressive basis.

The proposed quarry would straddle County Road 124, north of Horning's Mills and south of Honeywood. There would be direct access to the former Highway 24, which would serve as the haul route.

From the illustrations, there was no hint of any reliance on rail. On Monday, Mr. Lowndes said there is provision at the Highland plant to use rail service if available but, should rail not be restored, the quarry would proceed if approved.

He did indicate a preference for rail. "I like rail as a form of transportation. Rail (emits) 25% of the carbon (emitted by) trucks." He said the railway is not intended as "a sole purpose" line, but one to bring more industry to the Shelburne area.

Mr. Lowndes pointed out that The Highland Rail Group is a separate corporate entity, although both have essentially the same shareholder base.

He denied a rumour that the parent company of St. Marys Cement, in South America, is the principal shareholder.

"The investment group is based in Boston," he said. Although the president of the rail group, Joseph Izhakoff, is based in Florida, Mr. Lowndes said he is "part of the Boston group."

The limestone quarry would be excavated below the water table. Saturday's open house came at a time when Grand River Conservation Authority, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ontario Sand Stone and Gravel Association have released a jointly prepared draft report of the cumulative effects of such.

The Highland model of water management in the quarry was presented as a system that would move the water and control seepage so that there would be no adverse effects on the aquifer.

Jason Baldson of Jagger Hims Ltd. said the system would "simulate natural conditions" and the water temperature would be maintained.

The model for rehabilitation might be unique to North America, but has apparently been proven elsewhere.

A photo of The Eden Project in the UK shows the rehabilitated area as sloping downward, surrounded by newly planted trees, and in crop production.

The Highland description of the process does not pretend that the rehabilitated areas would be returned to potato production overnight, but envisions a process whereby there would be a rotation of a variety of crops — all plowed back under to preserve the nutrients — and achieving the original crops within a matter of a few years.

The open house might have been a one-way presentation, but Mr. Lowndes said public input would be taken into account.