Part two of a long expensive legal process begins to limit the area that aggregate can be taken out the Nelson quarry site

By Staff

January 28^th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

The Nelson Quarry application to increase the size of the quarry they are currently taking aggregate out of is back on the table.

The shaded area is the property the Nelson Quarry people want to mine for aggregate.

The application was working its way through a very complex and lengthy process – Nelson didn’t think it was moving fast enough so they took the issues to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

At several of the most recent council meetings they went into a CLOSED session to discuss the OLT process.  Nothing public came out of that.

Today, City Council will debate a Motion to protect the Jefferson Salamander Habitat under the Niagara Escarpment Plan

Sarah Harmer will delegate on the Motion.  It was her testimony at a Joint Tribunal hearing back in 2012 that scuppered the Nelson Quarry first application to expand the land they were mining for aggregate.

Robert Goulet will delegate as well.

If there is a meeting to fund raise for those opposed to expansion of the Nelson Quarry – Sarah Harmer will be there with her guitar.

Whereas the Nelson Aggregates’ application for expansion of the Mount Nemo open-pit quarry in the City of Burlington is causing concern for residents of Burlington; and

Whereas northern Burlington is located within Ontario’s Greenbelt and includes the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve; and

Whereas Mount Nemo is entirely within the Greenbelt and sustains a fragile and inter-connected ecosystem featuring over 20 headwater tributaries, provincially significant wetlands, areas of natural and scientific interest, regionally significant woodlands, and the significant habitat of rare and endangered species; and

Whereas the United Nations has declared an unprecedented biodiversity crisis that shows species extinction rates are accelerating; and

These things have very impressive political clout: King Road is closed for a period of time so they can cross the road to do what they do to procreate.

Whereas in particular, Burlington is home to a significant population of Jefferson Salamanders, among other endangered species; and

Whereas Burlington’s Greenbelt habitats are also under threat of development for aggregate extraction now and in the future; and

Whereas the Governments of Canada and Ontario have recognized the Jefferson Salamander as an endangered species that requires species and habitat protection under federal and provincial laws; and

Whereas the City of Burlington accepts its shared responsibility to protect the habitat of the Jefferson Salamander, and has taken steps to preserve this species e.g., seasonal road closures; and

It took $2 million out of the legal department’s budget to pay for the year-long tribunal that decided the Jefferson Salamander was important and that an expansion of the existing quarry should not be permitted. Rural Burlington residents were the force behind that battle—they were not to be trifled with. The visual shows where the quarry is located on the Escarpment.

Now therefore be it resolved that Burlington Council endorses current federal and provincial laws protecting the Jefferson Salamander and its critical habitat, respects recognition of Jefferson Salamander habitat as a key natural heritage feature under the Niagara Escarpment Plan, stands resolutely against development that threatens the Jefferson Salamander, and unanimously opposes the issuance of any Overall Benefit permit under the Endangered Species Act that would be contrary to the protection of this species and its critical habitat in the Greenbelt in Burlington.

Council will also resolve to send the motion to everyone that can read without moving their lips.