NVCA board selects consultant to review mega-quarry application
Highlights of July 22 board meeting from NVCA – August 4 2011
SLR CONSULTING (CANADA) LTD. SELECTED TO CONDUCT REVIEW OF
HIGHLAND QUARRY APPLICATION
Due to the large and complex nature of the Highland Companies’ quarry application,
and the potential for significant impact to the NVCA watershed, NVCA staff identified
that the expertise and support of a professional consulting team would be required in
reviewing the application.
To this end, a Request for Proposals was prepared and
disseminated, and a Review Committee appointed to evaluate the proposals received.
Proposals were received from five consulting firms and, following a detailed review,
the Review Committee recommended and the Board approved SLR Consulting
(Canada) Ltd. SLR has an excellent multidisciplinary team of professionals with
extensive experience directly related to the quarry review work.
NVCA AND GRAND RIVER CA MEET WITH MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES
NVCA Chair Walter Benotto, Vice-Chair Joan Sutherland, Past-Chair Fred Nix and
CAO/Secretary-Treasurer Wayne Wilson, along with the CAO and Chair of the Grand
River Conservation Authority, met with Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey
and her staff on June 22 with regard to the Highland Companies quarry application in
the Township of Melancthon in Dufferin County.
Minister Jeffrey indicated that her Ministry is very supportive of the work the NVCA
and Grand River CA are doing in carrying out comprehensive reviews of the proposed
quarry to ensure the watershed environment and downstream water quality and
quantity interests are protected. All parties agreed that there is a need to coordinate
agency review of the very extensive technical information involved in a quarry
application of this size and complexity. To that end, the Minister committed to have
her MNR staff actively assist in this coordination.
NVCA ENTERS PLANNING PARTNERSHIP WITH TOWN OF NEW TECUMSETH
The NVCA Board of Directors unanimously approved a 3-year agreement between the
Authority and the Town of New Tecumseth intended to promote streamlining of the
plan review process, including enhancing communications and issue resolution.
A letter from Eric Chandler, Manager of Planning for the Town of New Tecumseth,
states: “We are pleased to have worked collaboratively with the NVCA throughout
this process and look forward to achieving the mutual goals as outlined in the
Partnership Agreement.” The full text of the agreement is available in the agenda of
the 08/11 meeting. (http://nvca.on.ca/Meetings/BoardofDirectors/Agendas/)
The NVCA has a similar signed agreement with Bradford-West Gwillimbury and plans
to establish similar agreements with the other 16 NVCA municipalities within its
watershed.
TWO WATER AND EROSION CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS GIVEN THE
GO-AHEAD
The Ministry of Natural Resources sponsors the Water and Erosion Control
Infrastructure (WECI) program for Conservation Authorities, providing 50% grant
funding for major maintenance projects and studies of flood and erosion control
structures. The NVCA has been granted $33,500 in support of two projects involving
the replacement of the New Lowell Dam stop logs and completing a dam break safety
analysis, for a total project cost of $67,000. The NVCA Board of Directors
unanimously endorsed these projects. The $35,000 local share of the project cost will
be drawn from the NVCA capital reserve.
HEARING ON APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT IN A FLOODWAY IN AMARANTH
TOWNSHIP
The NVCA Board of Directors sat as a Hearing Board for an appeal regarding an
application to construct a single family home in an area in Amaranth Township that is
regulated for floodplain hazards. The applicant’s representative presented an appeal
requesting that the Board approve the application. The Board heard the evidence and
ruled against the issuance of a permit to build in the floodplain.
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