At the recent meeting on March 11, the council gave the green light to zoning adjustments permitting the proposed expansion of the R.W. Tomlinson quarry in Ottawa. The quarry, located near Stittsville, is set to triple its current size, extracting large amounts of bedrock annually for use in construction materials. During the council’s agriculture and rural affairs committee meeting, concerns were raised about the potential impact of the expansion on local wildlife, particularly on various species of minnows and turtles residing in the wetlands within the expansion area.
Janet Stavinga, president of the Friends of Stittsville Wetlands, emphasized the importance of these ecosystems in supporting biodiversity and mitigating climate change by storing carbon. The expansion plan includes incorporating wetlands spanning 10.7 and 4.6 hectares, which had lost their provincially significant designations in recent years.
Sarah Hasenak from Ontario Nature expressed worry about the loss of wetlands that play a crucial role in flood prevention for nearby properties. In response, R.W. Tomlinson Ltd. assured that they would implement “progressive rehabilitation” to create over 63 hectares of natural features on the site. The company highlighted their phased extraction approach, with seven distinct phases spread over time to minimize environmental impact.
According to Neal DeRuyter, a planning consultant working on the project, the rehabilitation process will begin once extraction is completed, ensuring compliance with the city’s guidelines for no net loss of natural areas. The final decision on the expansion plan now rests with Ottawa city council for approval.