What's on this page

↓ Current status
↓ Provincial Environmental Assessment
↓ Background
↓ Project details

Current status

The proponent, James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL), will hosted their first public information meeting, virtually, on Dec. 6, 2023. This first public information session introduced the project, provide an overview of the Environmental Assessment Process, and to seek feedback on the preliminary criteria and indicators.

JDCL posted an update in May 2024,  that included the RRRQEA Criteria & Indicators Response Table that outlined comments received from agencies and the public. 

In July 2024, JDCL posted A Notice of Posting - Final Criteria & Indicators Package. In this package, the Consultation Overview of Criteria & Indicators Stage documents are available.

The focus of the second public meeting is the project work plan, but a date is not yet set by JDCL.

Project updates are available on JDCL's project website. 

Provincial Environmental Assessment

On July 30, 2021, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks designated the proposed quarry as an undertaking under the Environmental Assessment Act.  This study places the proposed quarry into an additional approvals process through that Ministry as detailed in the Regulation approved by the Province. 

The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Resources and Forestry have confirmed the Aggregate Resources Act process is on hold, awaiting the outcome of the environmental assessment process. 

On Oct. 16, 2023, the Town of Milton received a formal ‘Notice of Commencement of Environmental Assessment (EA)’ from the proponent, JDCL. Halton Region, the Town, and Conservation Halton were invited to provide comments and input regarding the technical information produced by JDCL through the EA process. The Town will participate, as a member of the Joint Agency Review Team (JART), on the Government Review Team for the EA. The Town and other agencies are commenting bodies only and do not have any approval authority for the EA or overall ARA application

The requirements and process are summarized below:

  • JDCL is required to prepare a number of specific studies pertaining to groundwater:
    • Door-to-door well survey program;
    • Water quality monitoring program;
    • Assessment of the effect on groundwater from blasting below the water table;
    • Any other hydrogeological studies that may be identified by the Director of the Ministry’s EA Branch:
    • Fugitive dust study;
    • Study of the conditions of any haul route(s); and
    • A social impact assessment.
  • Addressing cumulative effects in the environmental assessment
  • Requirements for specific consultation in preparing the environmental assessment (e.g. notices, evaluation criteria and indicators, and a draft environmental assessment)

Unless specified in the regulation, the remaining provisions of the Act would apply to the quarry including ministry consultation on the environmental assessment, a published Ministry Review, and ultimately a decision by the Minister, subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, respecting an application for approval of an environmental assessment for the project.

EA resources:

Background

An application for a new quarry at 9210 Twiss Road, located west of the intersection at Reid Side Road and Twiss Road has been submitted to the MNRF by JDCL. No corresponding Planning Act applications have been filed with the Town of Milton or Halton Region.  As a result, the Town of Milton is only a commenting agency to the MNRF and Milton Council is not the approval authority for the application. 

The application proposes to reactivate the former Woodlawn Guelph Campbellville Pit that previously had its licence revoked by the MNRF in 2008.

JDCL has applied for a Class A Category 1 & 2 licence, covering approximately 29.4 hectares (73 acres) with an extraction area of approximately 25.7 hectares (63.5 acres) for sand, gravel, and bedrock. The maximum annual tonnage is proposed to be approximately 990,000 tonnes.

Reid Road Quarry proposed location map

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) processes, the James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL) ARA application is currently in the review stage. The application will remain in this stage until the two-year review period, as identified in the ARA, has expired. This would normally have concluded in September 2020. On March 16, 2020, the Province of Ontario temporarily suspended consultation/review timelines in the ARA, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Province of Ontario has since lifted the temporary suspension. This action effectively resumes the ARA review process of the JDCL ARA application.

Project details

Joint Agency Review Team

The Town of Milton, Halton Region and Conservation Halton are participating in the ARA application review process, managed by MNRF, through a Joint Agency Review Team (JART). The JART process ensures that the technical review undertaken by the public agencies is completed in a coordinated, comprehensive and efficient manner. Where specific expertise is not available within the JART partners organizations, peer review consultants can be retained to assist JART with the technical review of specific components of the ARA application and supporting documentation prepared for the applicant. 

JART reviews

November 2020 – JART received JDCL's complete reply to the May 2020 JART reports. This information was under review when the Provincial environmental designation was applied. 

May 26, 2020 - JART issued their second round of comprehensive review comments to the applicant and MNRF. These comments include the original JART comment, responses provided by JDCL and the most recent response from JART. The JART members are currently waiting for a comprehensive response from JDCL including updated reports and site plan drawings that addresses the issues and concerns included in the JART comments.

July 31, 2019 - JART released its initial review comments to the applicant and the MNRF. The cover letter summarizes the key issues with JDCL’s submission and a detailed comment table was prepared by agency staff with input from the Region’s retained consultants. 

Current reports/Plans under review

James Dick Construction Limited has created a website to share background studies and other materials that they have produced in support of their application. You can view a list of the original studies on their website.

They have not posted all of the updated reports on their website that they have shared with the JART since the initial submission of the application to MNRF. As a result, the Town is providing most the updated materials submitted to the JART below.

Recently however, JDCL has added an application update to their website and this document is not provided below. 

 

The Town of Milton strives to be accessible in all communications to ensure materials are available for all members of the public. To receive a copy of any of the documents listed below, please contact us and let us know if you require the document in an accessible format.

  

 

The following reports were received in November 2020:

  • Hydrogeology 
  • Implementation Guide
  • Natural Heritage
  • Road Safety
  • Site Plans 1 to 6
  • Traffic Impact Study
  • Woodland Edge Assessment

As of Aug. 25, 2020, the following reports and plans are under review by JART: 

Complaint Tracking

Implementation Guide

Air Quality

NHS/Woodlands

Transportation

Noise Impact Study

Blasting

Hydrogeology

Letters of Objection
Sept. 17, 2018 - Milton issued a Letter of Objection to JDCL and MNRF, outlining the Town's concerns with the application as proposed at the time. Some of the issues included:
  • Potential effects on nearby communities have not been adequately addressed
  • Potential effects on the environment have not been adequately addressed
  • Potential effects on ground and surface water resources, including on drinking water sources and private wells, have not been adequately addressed
  • The suitability of the progressive and final rehabilitation plans for the site have not been adequately addressed
  • Detailed consideration should be given to planning and land use matters

Dec. 11, 2018 - JDCL issued a response letter to the Town's Letter of Objection.

April 2019 - JDCL, in accordance with ARA requirements, requested that all objectors either confirm that their objection had been resolved or alternatively, that they would like to maintain their objection, triggering a 20-day reply period from the Town, and any other commenting person or bodies.

May 15, 2019 - Town of Milton issued a letter reconfirming to the MNRF that the Town wishes to maintain its objection to the proposed application, as the issues had not been resolved.

Since April 2019, JDCL has not requested any further confirmation from those who have previously provided JDCL and the MNRF with a written objection letter that their objections either remains or alternatively that the objection has been resolved.

Staff reports
 Three staff reports related to the Reid Road Reservoir Quarry have been provided:

Environmental Assessment

On July 25, 2019, Member of Provincial Parliament for Milton, Parm Gill, formally requested that the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) undertake an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the proposed Reid Road Reservoir quarry project. No further information or direction on this request has been made available to the Town or JART partners to-date.

Contact us to request copies of any documentation not posted due to accessibility.