Stop the Massive Devastating Quarry proposed for Nearby
Farmland and Natural Habitat
We love our beautiful countryside and farms in this area. We also passionately care about the preservation of farmland and the biodiversity of the world as it’s so important to life on earth.
In 2019 a Brazilian conglomerate company called Votorantim Cimentos, which owns St. Mary’s Cement, proposed to locate a mega blasting quarry on 800 acres of prime agricultural land adjacent to the Credit River south of Alton only about seven kilometers from Whole Village. Differing from gravel pits, this was a plan to use explosives to blast 80 feet below the water table and release the rising water into the river. This quarry would be situated on forest and farmland in the heart of the Caledon Greenbelt and Greenlands System in Peel. Water problems for the Credit River, loss of farmland, dust contamination, loss of ecological features, and increased truck traffic (up to 75 per hour, up to 23 hours a day) are some of the concerns that would affect all of us. When finally depleted, the Forks of the Credit will be left with a colossal gaping hole in the ground that will still exist 10,000 years from now. The size and depth of the quarry are massive!
We learned that the Town of Caledon does not have strong bylaws regarding pits and quarries and that they are a huge tax burden because of the damage to the roads that the trucks cause. Caledon has a short time to make these bylaws. The planning department is looking at making changes but of course there’s lots of political pressure to allow these practices.
As well as the devastating physical problems this quarry will create, there are allegations worldwide including from Canada against Votorantim Cimentos regarding human rights issues and environmental infractions. Do we really want to do business with this company?
We have also discovered that the limestone bedrock gained from this proposed quarry are not needed by construction in Ontario but in areas outside of Ontario. Profit is a strong driver while our own environment is forever destroyed.
We would like to ask you to join us in opposing this quarry. You can sign a petition, support the group financially and/or come out to the meetings an rallies to fight it. We are engaged and we’d love it if you would join us! Please find out more at:
https://www.fcpreservation.ca/get_involved
