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Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Where would the proposed Carlisle Quarry rank amoung Canada's largest?

Where would the proposed quarry rank if it were in full production in 2004? Click here to view a chart that lists the largest quarries in Canada as measured by millions of tonnes of aggregate produced per year.

Monday, July 11, 2005
FORCE places ad in Flamborough Review

FORCE volunteers placed an ad in the June 8th Flamborough Review to emphasize the impact that the Lowndes Holdings Corp. Quarry would have on the already overburdened Carlisle Water Supply. View Ad.

Monday, July 11, 2005
Request a new Stop The Quarry Lawn Sign

Our Stop The Quarry Lawn Signs are a very powerful presence in our community. We have recently purchased an additional supply to ensure that we all have an opportunity to make a public statement of our feelings about this potential quarry. Over the winter many signs have suffered the effects of the elements. If you would like a new sign for any reason please click here to place an order.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005
City of Hamilton Asks for More Information to Assess Dufferin Application for Licence Amendment in West Flamborough

The City of Hamilton has asked the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to have the company provide more information to assess the Dufferin Aggregates' application for an Aggregate Resources Act licence amendment to increase annual production from 750,000 to 3 million tonnes in one portion of its licensed area. In the absence of the information, the City objects to the application. The decision rests with MNR..

Tuesday, July 05, 2005 - Hamilton Spectator Article
City plans new well for Carlisle

Construction is to begin this fall on a new well to help the affluent village of Carlisle avoid the watering bans that have its residents burning up.

After years of watering restrictions, the city imposed a ban last week after residents drained the water tower twice to keep lawns green in a heat wave. Read Full Article.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005 - Hamilton Spectator Commentary
Running on dry

The heat and scarcity of rain that is defining this summer has placed a heavy burden on our electricity grid and water treatment capacity.

Some residents in the rural Carlisle area of Hamilton - which is not on the 1,874 kilometres of city water mains, and instead draws water from community wells - complain their grass is being baked brown because there’s insufficient H2O to soak the neighbourhood’s massive lawns. Read Full Article.

Monday, July 04, 2005 - Hamilton Spectator Article
All is not well in Carlisle - Water supply is inadequate,well users say

Residents on the communal well system in Carlisle used so much water on their lawns last week that they twice drained the water tower dry. That forced the city to impose a watering ban and spawned complaints from residents that Hamilton isn’t providing enough water to keep their properties green. Download Full Article (277 KB).

Friday, July 01, 2005 - Flamborough Review Article
Quarry opponents not daunted by OMB call

Speculation by environmental activists that recent approval for expansion of Milton Quarry doesn't bode well for those fighting a proposal for a new pit in northeast Flamborough was refuted last week by quarry opponent, Graham Flint.

"It's really quite different from our situation," he said, pointing out that the Milton application pre-dates the greenbelt legislation while the quarry proposed for 11th Concession Road East near Milburough Line will have to conform to the more rigorous environmental constraints of the new greenspace protection regulations. Read Full Article (126 KB).

Thursday, June 30, 2005 - Hamilton Spectator Article
Carlisle under water ban

Hamilton has banned 600 households from any outdoor watering as the communal well systems runs dry every night. Donna Faraser-Simmons knew there was a problem Tuesday when she tried to get a glass of water around 10 p.m and took almost a minute to fill up the glass. Read Full Article.

Monday, June 27, 2005 - Hamilton Spectator Article
Quarry foes say pit will endanger wells

An Ottawa expert warns a huge proposed quarry in northeast Flamborough could dry up nearby creeks, wells and wetlands and threaten the quality and quantity of municipal well water in Carlisle. Read Full Article.

Friday, June 17, 2005
FORCE Supporters Attend City Council Meeting in Millgrove to Help StopTheQuarry

FORCE supporters attended at the Millgrove Community Centre site as Councillors arrived for the community outreach regular Council meeting. A quiet professional vigil demonstrated to Council, as they visited our "home turf" in Flamborough, that the community remains engaged and that the proposed aggregate development is a significant issue for our area given its implications for drinking water quality and quantity, natural features, and haul routes, among others. The proposal is also a significant land use issue for the City of Hamilton - on par with the Red Hill Creek Expressway for its complexity and controversy - and for the adjacent Halton municipal jurisdictions. View photographs of FORCE supporters at the event

Friday, June 17, 2005 - Flamborough Review Article
Carlisle water ban in place

Hot on the heels of last week's summer-like weather, has come the appearance of lawn sprinklers.

And quickly following the sprinklers, comes the reminder from the City of Hamilton about the ongoing watering restrictions in Carlisle.

"We've already seen the consumption starting to rise, so we're doing this as a proactive measure, and a measure to make sure we don't have any problems with the wells out there," said Jim Harnum, the city's senior director of water and wastewater.

The summer watering restrictions, imposed in 2003, ban Carlisle residents who are serviced by the Carlisle communal wells from outdoor watering any time except from 7 p.m. to midnight, every other day. Read Full Article.- This article is no longer available

Friday, June 17, 2005
Minister of Municipal Affairs Announces Greenbelt Foundation and Interim Board

The Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, responsible for the Greenbelt Plan, announced the creation of the Greenbelt Foundation on June 16, 2005. The Greenbelt Foundation's purpose is to help foster the Greenbelt's living legacy by nurturing and supporting activities that preserve the environmental and agricultural integrity of the Greenbelt.

The Greenbelt Foundation will operate independently from government and will coordinate and fund activities such as the promotion of agriculture and viniculture, research, public education, land stewardship and land acquisition across the Greenbelt. The foundation was given a one-time $25-million provincial grant to help cover the start-up and on-going costs to operate it.

The Foundation’s five-member Interim Board is responsible for the strategic and administrative set up of the Foundation. This includes developing a strategic plan, an investment strategy and criteria for grants. The Foundation’s Interim Board, which is chaired by Sandy Houston, Executive Director of the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation, will be replaced by a nine-member permanent board in March 2006.

To read the full announcement, visit http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page187.aspx

Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Province announces Funding to Support Development of Hamilton Area Agricultural Action Plan

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, responsible for the Greenbelt Plan, and the Minister of Agriculture and Food provided $100,000 to the City of Hamilton to begin the planning, development and implementation of a Hamilton Area Agricultural Action Plan. The funds can be used for such things as research, apprenticeship and cooperative education programs, identification of new markets for local products, and agricultural tourism opportunities. Preserving farm land through the Greenbelt Plan and encouraging agricultural viability are important to ensure that our local farmers can continue to grow the foods we eat. The Agricultural Sector is one of Hamilton's largest economic contributors - generating an estimated $1 billion for the local economy each year. We look forward to learning how the City, in cooperation with the Hamilton-Wentworth Federation of Agriculture, will spend the funds and how Flamborough area farms may benefit. To read the full announcement visit http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page465.aspx. Similar announcements were made for farmers in Niagara and the Greater Toronto Area (York, Durham, Peel and Halton).

Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Places to Grow Act Passed

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario passed Bill 136, the Places to Grow Act on June 13, 2005. This bill was first introduced into the House on October 28, 2004, at the same time as the Greenbelt Act. The goal of the Places to Grow Act is to plan for more compact growth over the next 30 years in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, outside the Greenbelt Plan designated lands. Its effectiveness will be an important determinant of aggregate demand.

View the Places to Grow Act as passed (604 KB)

Monday, June 13, 2005
Hamilton City Council Holding Regular Meeting in Flamborough on June 15, 2005

As part of its ongoing community outreach efforts to the former Area Municipalities, Hamilton City Council will be holding its next regular meeting in Flamborough on June 15, 2005. Please note that there is no Council agenda item at this meeting with respect to the Lowndes Holdings Corp. Application for the proposed Carlisle Quarry and no decision to be made. As noted in the Latest News posting re: Peer Review(41 KB), the City has just recently secured funding from the Proponent to begin Peer Reviews of the Application - an early stage in the Application Review Process.

The Flamborough Chamber of Commerce is hosting a reception for Councillors, Chamber members, and others in the community prior to the Council meeting. Graham Flint, Chair of FORCE, will attend the pre-meeting reception. Some FORCE supporters will attend at the site as Councillors arrive. A quiet professional vigil will continue to demonstrate to Council, as they visit our "home turf" in Flamborough, that the community remains engaged and that the proposed aggregate development is a significant issue for our area given its implications for drinking water quality and quantity, natural features, and haul routes, among others. The proposal is also a significant land use issue for the City of Hamilton - on par with the Red Hill Creek Expressway for its complexity and controversy - and for the adjacent Halton municipal jurisdictions.

The City Council meeting will be held at the Millgrove Community Centre on Millgrove Sideroad near the public library and ball diamonds.

Monday, June 13, 2005
City of Hamilton Secures Funds for Peer Review of Carlisle Quarry Proposal

FORCE has learned that the City of Hamilton has secured the funding for the Peer Reviews of the Application by Lowndes Holdings Corp. for the proposed Carlisle quarry, as of June 9, 2005. Staff can now proceed with officially retaining the City's peer review (41 KB) consultants as one of the early milestones described in the City's Process Flow Chart (63 KB).

Friday, June 10, 2005 - Flamborough Review Article
Carlisle Water Ban in Place...Again

The Flamborough Review story "Carlisle water ban in place" describes the Water Restrictions that are again in place in Carlisle as well as the City's plans to manage the water situation.

The reality is that as a community, we have watched the water situation in Carlisle get more and more difficult. Once again, we have to check the calendar for even and odd-numbered days in order to know whether we can or cannot water our lawns. And after a sweaty baseball or soccer game on these hot, humid nights, our kids often can’t even come home to have a refreshing bath or shower because of the low pressure. Progress is being made with a new well, which will have the capacity to pump more litres of water, to replace an old existing one, but water quantity is still a challenge.

The wells that service Carlisle use some 500,000 gallons per day of water. Jim Harnum, the City's Director of Water and Wastewater, indicates that the water shortage in Carlisle is a significant problem and that the demand for water has not been able to be satisfied for the last five years. The proposed Carlisle quarry, by Lowndes Holdings Corp., could take out an estimated 3.2 Million gallons of fresh pure water from the very water source that feeds Carlisle’s water supply based on analysis by INTERA Engineering Ltd. INTERA's principal suggests that not only would the quantity be affected, but so could the quality of our water.

So, if we have a water quantity problem now, what will the future be like if the quarry proposal is approved? Read Full Article.- This article is no longer available

Thursday, June 09, 2005
Consolidated Hearings Board approves Dufferin Aggregates' Milton Expansion with Conditions

The Consolidated Hearings Board (CHB) rendered its decision regarding Dufferin Aggregates' Milton Expansion (Case # 03-86) on June 8, 2005. The Applications and Development Permit were approved with conditions. FORCE does not have a formal position with respect to the Dufferin Aggregates' Milton Expansion. The Dufferin quarry expansion is not part of the mandate originally established for FORCE by the community on June 9, 2004. We do understand, however, that the decision will be upsetting for some FORCE supporters from rural Milton and we empathize with their concerns. FORCE will review the CHB decision for relevant information to the pending application in our jurisdiction. FORCE supporters are reminded of the differences between this case and the proposed Lowndes Holdings Corp. application. The Dufferin application involved an expansion to an existing site in contrast to a proposed new greenfield site. The Dufferin application was not subject to the Greenbelt Legislation. Its process started many years ago and its hearings before the CHB were completed prior to the announcement of the final Greenbelt Plan. Further, all government agencies, including the Niagara Escarpment Commission, Conservation Halton, as well as the Halton municipalities, were in support of the Applications subject to additional conditions. We are encouraged by the preliminary reports on the Lowndes Holdings Corp. proposal from these same agencies and the concerns that they are raising. Review the Decision.

Thursday, June 02, 2005 - Flamborough Review Article
FORCE continues to dig in for quarry battle one year later

"I will be shocked if this doesn't go to the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board)," Graham Flint said Monday at a community meeting in Flamborough.

The meeting was focusing on plans for a proposed quarry on 11th Concession Road East near Milburough Line. Speaking to a capacity crowd of about 200 area residents who jammed into the recreation hall at Lawson Park, the chair of FORCE (Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment) predicted the controversial proposal will end up at the O , which will decide its fate. Read the Full Article (129 KB)

Thursday, June 02, 2005
Respected Research Organization Releases Report on Provincial Progress in Building Sustainable Communities

The Pembina Institute released a report today that assesses the progress of the government of Ontario on 'smart growth' and urban sustainability issues since October 2003. "Building Sustainable Urban Communities in Ontario: A Provincial Progress Report" focuses on the areas of land-use planning, infrastructure funding, fiscal and taxation issues and governance structures. The report concludes that significant progress has been made, but that additional action is needed in six areas: the completion of the reform of the Ontario Municipal Board, improved integration of major transportation projects with land-use planning, the resolution of a number of issues regarding development charges, property tax and non-development related municipal revenue sources, the integration of source water protection with land use planning, the provision of financial, technical and policy support to municipalities, and the development of a mineral aggregates conservation strategy. A number of these issues are important to our community's case against the proposed Lowndes Holdings Corp. aggregate development and FORCE will continue to advocate for them with the Province.

The Pembina Institute's latest report on provincial progress on smart growth and urban sustainability issues can be downloaded at http://www.pembina.org/publications_item.asp?id=182

Thursday, June 02, 2005

Minister of Municipal Affairs announces Greenbelt Advisory Council to help protect Permanent Greenbelt

Minister of Municipal Affairs John Gerretsen announced the appointment of a Greenbelt Advisory Council today to ensure continued protection for the Permanent Greenbelt. The Greenbelt Act, 2005 requires that the government establish a Greenbelt Council. The Council will provide advice on the administration of the Greenbelt and will guide the government on such matters as the implementation of the Greenbelt Plan, performance measures and the 10-year review of the plan.

The Council, which is chaired by Dr. Robert Elgie, a former MPP and cabinet minister in the Davis government, is composed of nine members appointed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Council members represent a variety of stakeholder interests and bring a range of experience to the task. They will serve a term of two to three years on a voluntary basis.

For more information on today's announcement, please visit http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page187.aspx