At the most recent meeting of the Ottawa city council’s agriculture and rural affairs committee, concerns were raised about the proposed expansion of the R.W. Tomlinson quarry located near Stittsville. The quarry owner aims to triple the size of the operation, extracting millions of tonnes of bedrock annually for construction purposes.
Environmental advocates, including Janet Stavinga from the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands, highlighted the potential impact on plant and animal wildlife, such as minnows and turtles inhabiting the wetlands within the expansion area. These ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity and play a role in climate change mitigation by storing carbon.
The expansion plan involves incorporating 10.7 hectares and 4.6 hectares of wetlands, which lost their provincially significant status a few years ago. Sarah Hasenak from Ontario Nature emphasized the importance of protecting these wetlands, especially in flood prevention.
In response to concerns, R.W. Tomlinson Ltd. assured plans for creating over 63 hectares of natural features through gradual rehabilitation efforts. Neal DeRuyter, a planning consultant working on the project, explained the phased approach to extraction to minimize disruption and ensure compliance with the city’s no net loss policy.
The company’s proposal, which includes rehabilitation measures post-extraction, is now awaiting final approval from the Ottawa city council after receiving support from the agriculture and rural affairs committee.