Walker appeals Upper’s Quarry applications to the Ontario Land Tribunal
[August 21, 2024] NIAGARA FALLS, ON – Since 1887, Walker Aggregates (Walker) has safely quarried stone from the Walker Brothers Quarries, to help grow the Niagara Region into what it is today. To support the continued growth of Niagara, high-quality local stone is needed to build critical infrastructure, including housing, hospitals, roads, and schools.
Walker is proposing the new Upper’s Quarry to meet the local demands for stone and replace Walker Brothers Quarries as it nears its end of production.
Although many quarries operate across Ontario, not all produce the high quality-concrete stone required for critical infrastructure. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) has identified the Upper’s Quarry site as one with a high-quality reserve of aggregates. This is based on the limestone available in the Niagara Region.
Local quarries are economically and environmentally better than their alternative – where stone is imported from outside of the Niagara Region. Locating quarries closer to construction sites reduces greenhouse gas emissions, traffic, and highway degradation from diesel delivery trucks. Local quarries reduce delivery costs, providing the most affordable aggregate to taxpayers and businesses, who in turn pay for local infrastructure. Public consultation for the proposed Upper’s Quarry began in November 2019. The applications to the City of Niagara Falls and Niagara Region were submitted in November 2021 and applications were deemed complete by December 23, 2021.
Over the past several years, Walker, the City of Niagara Falls and the Niagara Region have hosted public information sessions and received valuable community comments for consideration for the application re-submission in May 2023, August 2023 and June 2024. The application has now completed a thorough and rigorous JART (Joint Agency Review Team) review. Walker has collaboratively worked with local rightsholders and stakeholders to address concerns and ensure the application meets the high environmental and scientific standards set by the MNRF.
At this time, it is imperative to move the application forward to ensure that the most environmental and economical stone supply is secured and that we provide the continuity of employment for families who rely upon the construction industry across the Niagara Region. After careful consideration, Walker has respectfully elected to appeal our municipal applications related to the proposed Upper’s Quarry to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).
Walker thanks the Niagara Region, the City of Niagara Falls, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, the advisors of the JART and the public for their engagement and extensive consultation on the proposed Upper’s Quarry application. We remain committed to working in partnership with all our rightsholders and stakeholders and operating to the highest standards set by the Province of Ontario.
For further information on the Uppers Quarry application, please visit uppersquarry.ca
ABOUT WALKER
Walker Industries, a fifth-generation, family-owned company with more than 136 years in business, operates from its base in the Niagara Region with facilities across Canada and the United States. Walker employs more than 1,200 people in environmental waste management and recovery, renewable energy, paving and construction, aggregates, and emulsions chemistries. For more information visit www.walkerind.com
For media inquiries, please contact: