Nelson quarry proposal in Niagara Escarpment denied!

By Brent Patterson, Council of Canadians October 12 2012 

Congratulations to Sarah Harmer, PERL and everyone who fought against the expansion of a quarry on the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario.

The Hamilton Spectator reports, “Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring says it ‘is excellent news’ that a special provincial body has rejected an application by Nelson Aggregates to open a new quarry in Mount Nemo. The consolidated hearing board announced Thursday that it had dismissed the company’s application, which had drawn fire from residents and became a cause célèbre for singer Sarah Harmer (her family lives in north Burlington). …The decision was released after a process that began in June 2008 when Nelson applied to have the quarry proposal heard before the consolidated board. It began the process of winning approval for a new quarry in 2003. The existing quarry has operated since 1953 and Nelson wished to open an extension south of that operation.”

InsideHalton.com adds, “Nelson’s quarry proposal had previously been rejected by Burlington city council, Halton’s regional council, Conservation Halton and the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC). The Joint Board’s decision was released after a four-year hearing process, including several preliminary hearings and a main hearing that lasted several months and included nearly 300 exhibits. The board heard from 60 witnesses, including 47 experts and 13 members of the public. The city retained nine expert witnesses who appeared before the board and provided evidence covering hydrology; hydrogeology; biology; wetlands; salamanders; agriculture; air quality; human health; and planning.”

That article highlights, “Today’s decision was also applauded by environmental advocacy groups, including Protecting Escarpment Rural Land’s (PERL) Sarah Harmer. ‘The board’s decision is balanced and in keeping with our belief that development on the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, must be harmonious with the features and functions of the natural environment,’ said Harmer.” In January 2011, the Westcoaster.ca reported, “Harmer’s organization, PERL (Protecting Escarpment Rural Land) joins David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace, Council of Canadians, Sierra Club and a host of environmental organizations in pushing to update the plan and protect significant headwaters, wetlands, woodlands and species at risk.”

To find out more about PERL, please go to www.perlofburlington.org. To listen to Harmer’s song on this issue, ‘Escarpment Blues’, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52vXPZAkDug. A campaign blog on this issue can be read athttp://canadians.org/blog/?p=5098.