Air quality discussed at recent community meeting on proposed quarry

Forks of the Credit Preservation Group aims to keep community updated with frequent meetings

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Caledon residents have once again met to discuss a proposed quarry.

On February 7, the Forks of the Credit Preservation Group (FCPG) held its first community meeting of 2024 at the Alton Legion. The FCPG regularly holds meetings to update residents on its fight against a proposed below-water table blasting quarry south of Alton. 

The quarry is being proposed by CBM Aggregates, which is owned by Brazilian conglomerate Votorantim Cimentos.

The quarry would be approximately 800 acres in size and be located between Mississauga Road and Main Street north of Charleston Sideroad (Regional Road 24). It would also include portions of land south of Charleston Sideroad, and east of Main Street north of Charleston Sideroad. 

Keynote speaker at the February 7 meeting was Douglas Lyons, an air quality expert hired by the FCPG to review potential air quality impacts from the proposed quarry.

Lyons said Caledon should adopt World Health Organization (WHO) standards for emissions to provide the best protection of public health.

He said current information about air quality levels in Caledon is inadequate, and that Caledon needs to adopt its own air quality policy. 

Lyons' preliminary analysis of CBM Aggregates' air quality impact assessment raises concerns the quarry may not meet provincial emissions standards.

CBM Aggregates' air quality impact assessment that it submitted to the Town of Caledon says the quarry will not exceed provincial emissions standards.

Caledon Mayor Annette Groves was in attendance at the February 7 meeting. She shared that a Project Manager has been hired by the Town of Caledon to lead the Town's supplementary aggregate resources policy study process through its final key months. 

This came after concerns were raised by a community working group that Caledon will not be able to implement stronger aggregate policies by the time its Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL) runs out.

David Sylvester, President of the FCPG, said he's confident the new project manager will be able to get the process back on track. He said the deadline to implement new policies is rapidly approaching.

Caledon's currently has an ICBL in place that prohibits new pits and quarries. It was implemented on October 18, 2022. The ICBL was renewed for one year on September 26, 2023 and will now be in effect until October 18, 2024. 

Caledon has been updating its aggregate policies while the ICBL is in effect, as they were found to be some of the weakest in Ontario (out of top aggregate-producing municipalities).

CBM aggregates has appealed the ICBL renewal. 

Groves shared at the February 7 meeting that there will be an Ontario Land Tribunal case management conference on CBM Aggregates' appeal of Caledon's ICBL renewal on March 11.