PitSense is a community of people organized to respond to proposals for further increases in the number and size of aggregate operations in Caledon.
We are opposed to the continuing 'Domino Effect' growth of open pit mines and quarries in the agricultural and rural residential areas of the Niagara Escarpment and UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
LINKS
WELCOME to our LINKS page.
We have compiled the following links so that you may learn more about aggregate and quarry operations and their environmental, economic, and social effects, and the positive efforts being made to preserve our Escarpment and other important areas of Ontario.
Please enjoy and share ...
Traditional thinking is all about "what is";
... Edward de Bono
TEA, the Toronto Environmental Association, has released two stunning images that graphically show the size of the problem the Escarpment is facing:
http://www.torontoenvironment.org/sites/tea/files/Downtown%20Pit_06.jpg
and:
http://www.torontoenvironment.org/sites/tea/files/Escarpment_Pit_03.jpg
(click on images to enlarge)
PERL of BURLINGTON
http://www.perlofburlington.org/
Burlington area group opposing Mt. Nemo quarry
NDACT - North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Task Force is fighting the Highland Companies who have amassed landholdings in Melancthon and Mulmur Townships, in the County of Dufferin, of over 7,000 acres of prime agricultural land. The Highlands proposal is for a 2300 acre quarry. (By comparison the McCormick application is for 100 acres IN ADDITION TO 2800 acres that are already under extraction in Caledon.)
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ONTARIO GREENBELT ALLIANCE - 'GREENBELT Progress Report'
CONE - Coalition On the Niagara Escarpment - a non-profit alliance of environmental groups, conservation organizations, and concerned citizens and businesses founded in 1978 and dedicated to the protection of Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment.
http://www.niagaraescarpment.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=7
P.O.W.E.R. (Protect Our Water and Environmental Resources) is a membership driven, not-for-profit community organization that was originally formed by citizens of Halton Hills who were concerned about a plan to use the Acton quarry as a waste dump. The dump was stopped (and increased protection for the Niagara Escarpment was gained) but the fight to protect our water and environmental resources goes on...
http://www.powerhalton.ca//Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx
FOTEK - Friends of the Eramosa Karst - is a strong, non-profit, community voice
advocating the transfer of the remaining karst feeder lands to the Hamilton
Conservation Authority.
http://friendsoferamosakarst.org/
CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY -
The Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP)is an independent, not-for-profit research and education organization. They are a registered Canadian charity and one of Canada’s top environmental think tanks.
CIELAP meets and correspond with leaders and opinion-makers from the legal, corporate, and academic fields, and from across the wide-spectrum of society, to produce quality research that is objective, practical and solutions-focused.
CIELAP's mission is to inform legislative, policy and regulatory outcomes for Sustainability at the national and provincial/territorial levels of government in Canada.
THE GROUNDWATER FOUNDATION
A nonprofit organization that educates people and inspires action to ensure sustainable, clean groundwater for future generations. http://www.groundwater.org/
PROTECT CALEDON- a group of citizens in the north-west Palgrave area of Caledon who are fighting for their rights and opposing the expansion of a long-dormant pit (the Tottenham Pit) by Brock Aggregates.
CLEARVIEW COMMUNITY COALITION
http://clearviewcommunitycoalition.com/
The Clearview Community Coalition (CCC) is a group of citizens who are concerned about the destruction of the Niagara Escarpment and the adverse effects of quarries on local communities
CONCERNED CITIZENS OF BRANT - CCOB is a group of people concerned about the opening of a gravel pit on Watts Pond Rd in Paris. Because the pit license was granted in 1974 under entirely different circumstances, but the mining was never begun, CCOB believes that the license must be opened for review under today’s standards. Website at: http://ccob.ca/
Operation Maple is a source of information and community for Canadians who want to Take Canada Back.
L I N K S
QUARRY WATCH is dedicated to providing information on the proposed dimensional limestone quarry (the Squire Quarry) to be developed in the Head Lake area in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Website at: http://quarrywatch.org
CORE (Conserve Our Rural Environment) was incorporated in 2002 to confront the threat of a proposed gravel pit on the east side of Airport Road, south of County Road 21.
That was just the beginning: CORE has since taken on wind turbines crowding rural homes and views on the Niagara Escarpment; the loss of protection for the Escarpment (important enough to be recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve) and also works with our Township, County and Provincial governments to ensure protection of our aquifers, forests and agricultural heritage.
Niagara Escarpment Views is a quarterly magazine dedicated to the people who cherish the beauty and uniqueness of the Niagara Escarpment. And be sure to check out their blog that discusses all manner of things and encourages you to take part by leaving your comments.
The goal of AWARE-Ontario is to provide an overview of each environmental situation (as unbiased as possible) with links to more information where available. Hopefully this website will inform and save you time. In return we ask that you strive to make decisions with Ontario’s future generations in mind – whether you are voting, shopping or talking to your neighbour. Today’s decisions must take our children and grandchildren into account. Today’s choices are our legacy.
There is an old proverb: The earth was not given to us by our parents – it was loaned to us by our children. Treat it well.
Friends of Transvaal is a dedicated group of concerned citizens fighting to secure for future generations the agricultural and rural heritage of the Transvaal community and safety of water and habitat offered by the Thames River . Quarries and gravel pits now threaten to disrupt a way of life unbroken for over a century. Quality of life, environmental responsibility and good stewardship of the land and water for future generations is our goal. .
Residents of Guelph-Eramosa, Milton, Erin and Halton Hills have formed the Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) to respond to the proposal by the James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL). The company has applied to open a gravel pit and quarry called the "Hidden Quarry" on the North side of Highway 7 at the 6th Line, between Acton and Rockwood. Area residents who want more information about the proposal or to join the CRC are urged to contact the Coalition.
Concerned Residents Association of North Dumfries - Investigating and Taking Action on issues affecting citizens and the environment within the township, region, and province. CRAND is in the middle of an appeal with the Ontario Municipal Board to prevent the implementation of a gravel pit proposed by Preston Sand and Gravel. The hearing date is set for January 20th, 2014.
Oxford Green Watch knows that aggregate pits and quarries are supposed to be interim, temporary land uses and have a commitment in writing to rehabilitate the land to work with or as agricultural land. Taking land out of production temporarily while rock and stone is removed, restricts production of food for the short term. Nothing in the site plans, however, permits removing these lands permanently from food production, which would be the case if dumps are permitted in pits and quarries. Additionally, dump contents put food and water at risk forever. An attack on prime farmland, is an attack on the food and water necessary for all people, rural and urban.
Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Council - Working to promote a better understanding of air quality and climate change problems and their implications for public health among policy makers and to improve their ability to address these problems in an economically effective way.
The Blue Mountain Watershed Trust is a non-for-profit organization striving to conserve and protect the local watershed ecosystems of the areas surrounding Collingwood and the Blue Mountains.
Concerned Citizens of King Township (CCKT) exists to create opportunities for members of the community to foster and support actions that maintain the rural character of the Township and protect its environment.
Pits and Quarries Online
This website is run by the MNR and allows easy access to aggregate operation information, like site location, licensee or permittee name, site size, operation type (pit or quarry) and maximum annual tonnage information.
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Aggregates/1ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_104633.html
Citizens for Responsible Aggregate Development is a group of concerned neighbours, living in The Kawartha’s where there is a huge limestone development proposed - a 400 acre quarry, class A, Category 4, to produce crushed stone and Dimensional stone.
In April 2014, upon learning of 262.95 acres of prime farmland proposed as an aggregate pit, a group of concerned neighbors incorporated under 'Protect Mono'. Our objective is to oppose an application by Greenwood Construction.
Established in 1954, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in Ontario with a mandate to ensure Ontario’s water, land and natural habitats are conserved, restored and responsibly managed through watershed-based programs.
CAMP Inc. is a citizen-based advocacy group with supporters in Melville, Alton and Orangeville. CAMP formed in July 2013 to oppose the Olympia Sand and Gravel application and to protect our natural and built environments from large-scale aggregate mining near Melville and Orangeville.
The Ontario Soil Regulation Task Force is a coalition of citizens groups and other interested parties seeking solutions to the problems of excess construction soil. We meet on a regular basis to develop a unified approach - pooling our talents and our resources to get results.
Ecosource is an innovative environmental organization specializing in programs that focus on how each of us can change our daily habits to become better environmental citizens. The Peel Environmental Youth Alliance (PEYA) is a network of action-oriented students in Peel concerned about environmental issues and determined to make positive change!
AWARE Simcoe- Protecting water and farmland in
Simcoe County.
Ontario Smart Growth Network is a provincial network of organizations and individuals working to promote a smarter approach to urban design. Our mission: to foster networking and collaboration in support of smart urban growth in Ontario.
BRIDGEKEEPERS of WEST MONTROSE
YYC Cares is a group of citizens in the Calgary area working on cumulative impacts of various projects including gravel extraction.
is a growing list of residents seeking better dust and noise control measures at the nearby Lehigh Hanson open pit mine.
NO PLACE for a QUARRY is a group of concerned citizens opposed to a proposed quarry centred within a concentrated area of cottages, residences, a world class wellness resort, and a family farm as close at 90 metres from the blast zone.
Organized to oppose the Campbellville Quarry application
Forks of the Credit Preservation Group
is an incorporated, nonprofit organization of volunteers from the Caledon community. We are opposed to the impending application from St. Marys Cement for a blasting quarry in Caledon. This proposed mega quarry will be roughly 800 acres in size, 100 feet deep and will operate 12 hours a day/6 days a week for 50+ years.
Simply put, our goal is to preserve the ecological integrity of Caledon by protecting our land, air and water.
Awesome water page for kids! It's on aquifers - https://moderncastle.com/aquifers/ which contributor Yvonne thought was really neat . It has info on groundwater, the water cycle & water conservation.