At a recent meeting on March 11, the council gave the green light to zoning adjustments that pave the way for the proposed expansion of the R.W. Tomlinson quarry.
A quarry owner in Ottawa has moved a step closer to tripling the size of their operation. Situated southwest of Stittsville along Highway 7 in the rural west of the city, R.W. Tomlinson extracts millions of tons of bedrock annually for use in concrete and asphalt.
During the latest session of the city council’s agriculture and rural affairs committee, concerns were raised about the potential impact of the expansion on plant and animal wildlife. Several individuals highlighted that at least three species of minnows and turtles inhabit the wetlands within the expansion zone.
Janet Stavinga, president and co-founder of the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands, emphasized the importance of these diverse ecosystems for biodiversity and climate change mitigation. The group mentioned that the wetlands also provide natural infrastructure services to support healthy communities.
The proposed expansion, spearheaded by Tomlinson Group, entails incorporating 10.7 hectares and 4.6 hectares of wetlands that lost their provincially significant designations in recent years.
Sarah Hasenak from Ontario Nature expressed concerns about the potential loss of wetlands critical for flood prevention in the area.
R.W. Tomlinson Ltd. outlined its plan to create over 63 hectares of natural features through gradual rehabilitation on the site. The company emphasized the phased approach to extraction, with seven distinct phases planned over time to minimize environmental impact.
According to Neal DeRuyter, a planning consultant working on the project, the company aims to meet the city’s requirements for no net loss by rehabilitating the area once extraction is completed.
The final decision on the expansion plan now rests with the Ottawa city council for approval.