Rockfort Quarry study presented
By ALAN LICZYK

With the Rockfort Quarry application set to go to the Ontario Municipal Board next year, work is continuing on the comprehensive broader scale environmental study.

Residents were invited to ask questions about the CBSES during a public information forum at the Brampton Fairgrounds Thursday night.

Todd Salter, senior policy planner with the Town of Caledon, explained the Rockfort Quarry proposed by James Dick Construction Ltd. is located at the corner of Olde Base Line Road and Winston Churchill Boulevard near Belfountain. He added the evening's forum was about the ecosystem characterization - how the natural environment is functioning within the study area.

Salter noted James Dick applied for the Rockfort Quarry in 1998 and in November 2003 the OMB ruled the policies of Caledon's Official Plan Amendment 161 applied to this application. OPA 161 established the policies for the CBSES.

OPA 161 sets out the various requirements that have to be met by aggregate applications and the CBSES is one of the additional requirements that apply within reserve lands.

Salter added the purpose of the CBSES is to develop a science-based understanding of the natural environment with the resource area, to develop an understanding of how the environment might respond to changing land uses like a new quarry, and to develop policies and management strategies to prevent unacceptable environmental impacts and to guide sitespecific applications.

James Dick produced Part A of the CBSES for Thursday's forum. Parts B and C will be completed between February and August of this year. More public consultation will occur during this time. The reports will be updated and released for review this coming October. The OMB hearing for the Rockfort Quarry starts Sept. 29, 2008.

Richard Murphy of Conestoga Rovers & Associates, representing James Dick's CBSES team, presented highlights of the study findings to date for Part A: Characterization.

"We need to know what's out there, how it works," he said.

They assessed and documented existing conditions for natural environment and related features such as creeks, wetlands, fisheries and forests. The study process included both public and agency input.

Murphy explained the study area was divided into three general regions based on physical and ecological characteristics.

The Upper Region's major landform is the Paris Moraine. The region is predominantly agricultural land use and mostly outside the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area.

The Middle Region has flatter topography between the Paris Moraine and the Escarpment. It's predominantly agricultural land use and a high potential mineral aggregate area.

In the Lower Region, the major landform is the Niagara Escarpment. The predominant land use is forested areas. There are large blocks of publicly owned land and the location of the only settlement area - Terra Cotta.

During the question phase of the forum a woman noted there were natural occurring springs and wildlife not mentioned during the presentation.

Murphy agreed there were a number of springs and species not mentioned. He said they mapped a number of springs that they've identified or had pointed out to them.

A man asked if needs or alternatives were identified when the official plan was designated.

Salter replied the question of need is something the Town can't address in its policies. The applicant doesn't have to prove there is a need for the resource, he said.

A second woman asked when will the data collection and water monitoring end.

Murphy responded the bulk of the monitoring is done.

A third woman noted there are white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and coyotes in the area.

Murphy said the study does consider all forms of wildlife.

A fourth woman wanted to know how they determined which wells to study.

Murphy said they found 20 representative wells around the resource area. He added people's willingness was another factor.

Residents will have a further opportunity to comment at a workshop being planned for Feb. 27.