ABERFOYLE ‒ A local aggregate pit company has applied to double its current annual tonnage limit and extend its hours.
In a new report coming to Puslinch council Wednesday morning, staff are recommending that council object to the application from Dufferin Aggregates, a division of CHR Canada Group Inc. (Incorporated) to increase their annual tonnage limit from 1,000,000 tonnes to 2,000,000 until a municipal review process is concluded.
The most mined material in the world, aggregates are construction materials like sand, gravel, crushed stone slag, and recycled concrete that are commonly used in construction.
"The purpose of sending the objection letter is to advise the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and the pit operator that the township requires time to conduct a review process that will allow the township an opportunity to identify concerns and seek community input on this proposal," said acting CAO and municipal clerk, Courtney Hoytfox, in the report. "The time frame for comments provided by the MNRF is insufficient to conduct a meaningful review."
According to a letter from the company, council approval would allow for Aberfoyle Pit 2 at 4445 Victoria Road to increase the amount of aggregate extracted so it can be finalized and rehabilitated twice as fast.
"The aggregate reserves in Pit 1 are running out," said Dufferin Aggregates, in their letter. "Additional material is required from Pit 2 in order for (the company) to continue to maintain current shipping levels from Pit 1."
Currently, all material is shipped to Aberfoyle Pit 1 on Brock Road, north of Highway 401, for processing and shipping to market.
The material from Pit 2 is shipped on an existing approved haul route which has trucks travelling north on Victoria Road South, west on Wellington Rd. 34, and South on Brock Road.
The company would also extend its hours to May to until a few days before Christmas, as well as change its operating hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to accommodate the tonnage increase while maintaining the existing peak hourly traffic of 17 to 18 trucks per hour.
The proposal request for this license is being circulated within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the County of Wellington, and any landowners within 120 metres of the license boundary have been notified.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
