Save Barbers Lake and Long Sault Creek

Opposing the planned Cavanagh gravel pit on the Highland Line

Oct 8, 2024

Notes from Friends of Lanark Highlands 2024 AGM

The Annual General Meeting was held on September 24, Here is the presentation given to members. It is a review of events, meetings and news that happened over the last year.

Oct 4, 2024

Download the October Newsletter in the NEWS section

July 18, 2024

Annual General Meeting

Sept 24th, 2024 Agricultural Hall, McDonalds Corners

Hello Everyone, Friends of Lanark Highlands would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has asked to be kept informed regarding the Highland Line pit proposal. Hundreds of community members have written letters of concern and have participated in public and community meetings. As a group, we have been able to spread the word and meet with elected officials who will be deciding how the environment and development in Lanark Highlands will look in the future.

On September 24, 2024, “Friends of Lanark Highlands Corp” will be having its first annual general meeting. If you would like to attend and have voting rights, you must become a member before July 23, 2024. This falls under rules FLH is required to follow under our by-laws and the Ontario Incorporation Act. You can become a member with a one time donation of $20 per individual or $30 for a household.

As a member, you may attend FLH annual general meetings and participate in important decisions of the organization going forward. The stronger the membership is, the better positioned we are to effectively convey our concerns to decision makers. To become a member, please complete the following two steps:

1. Select “CONTACT” from the menu bar at the top of this page. Once you have filled out the form with your full name and email address, please write in the message box that you would like to become a member of Friends of Lanark Highlands. Please include in the text box the names of any additional members (must be 18 yrs) for family memberships.

2. From the drop down menu click “DONATE” to follow the steps to e-transfer your membership donation to FLHtreasury@gmail.com, including your name and “membership”. If you would prefer to pay cash, please email friendsoflanarkhighlands@gmail.com and arrangements can be made.

Thank you to everyone for all you have done. Hope to see you on September 24th!

May 5, 2024

“Selfish and Offensive”

residents fight proposed Lanark Highlands pit

Article in the Lanarkist

What can you do to help!

Write a letter! Details

Sign the petition to support the cause!

Attend public meetings. See upcoming Events

Become a member of Friends of Lanark Highlands

Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date (see below)

Make a donation to Friends of Lanark Highlands. Our Donation Page

Buy a t-shirt. Contact us

Make all your friends and neighbors aware!

June 5, 2024

The Newsletters have all moved to the NEWS page

March 21, 2024

It’s been one year folks! In that time, we have become aware of the insatiable and relentless encroachment of the aggregate industry into sensitive watersheds and wetlands, not only in Lanark Highlands, but across the province. This expansion would not have been possible a decade ago, but recent changes to provincial policy and legislation have favoured this industry.

Read here about the changes to Conservation Authorities’ oversight, giving advantages to the aggregate developers. Note how the extractive industries have been given priority over local economic development, eco- and agri- tourism, and areas of scientific and and natural interest. In particular, recognize that acknowledgement of climate change is nowhere to be seen.

The Ford government has finally gutted the role of the Conservation Authorities in protecting sensitive ecosystems:

https://thenarwhal.ca/newsletter-ontario-conservation-authorities-changes/

Friends of the Burnt Lands oppose Cavanagh's March Road Quarry Expansion:

https://catalog.ontarionature.org/spring-2024/page/24-

In Caledon, the best use of lands for the greatest benefit to the community is under dispute:

https://thepointer.com/article/2024-02-25/800-acre-blasting-quarry-could-hurt-local-caledon-businesses-and-tourism-industry

November 9, 2023

Download a copy of our information handout

Print this out to have information that you can easily hand out to friends and family to keep them informed about the situation on the Highland Line

The Friends of Lanark Highlands are fighting to preserve Ontario’s precious wetlands and creeks

read more

Continue Writing Letters!

Letters 0f concern are crucial and can still be sent to Lanark Highlands Township, the County of Lanark and to our MPP John Jordon.

Subject: Cavanagh Proposed Highland Line Pit

Township of Lanark Highlands: LHclerk@lanarkhighlands.ca

County of Lanark: info@lanarkcounty.ca

Member of Provincial Parliament John Jordan: John.Jordan@pc.ola.org

Thank you to all who wrote letters of concern to both Phil White, the ARA/MNRF and the Environmental Registry as part of the licence application by Cavanagh. Every letter makes a difference!

Please stay tuned for more news to come!

__________________________________

Proposed Sand and Gravel Pit on the Highland Line just south of McDonald’s Corners (in red)

The other sites in yellow are existing gravel pits. At present, none of these local pits operate below the water table.

For directions - google maps

Cavanagh Construction proposes a huge sand and gravel pit directly on the borders of Barbers Lake

A Class “A” pit operation with excavation below the water table operating 24 hours a day - seven days a week
Only a 30 metre setback from the sensitive wetland shores of Barbers Lake
Crushing, washing, and screening plants with recycling of imported construction waste and asphalt
Licence to remove up to 1,000,000 (one million) tonnes of aggregate annually
Up to 1000 gravel trucks coming and going daily on the Highland Line, and continuing through Lanark Village to points east and south
The technical reports Cavanagh has submitted leave many unanswered questions about: traffic and roads; acoustics; the dark night sky; the impact on springs, aquifers, and wells; the impact on wetlands; loss of habitat and threat to species at risk; pre-contact archaeology; air quality;human health; property values; resource allocation; potential release of on-site uranium; climate change
In short, this proposal is an assault on the environment and the community surrounding McDonald’s Corners

Removal and export of the entire hill forming the western shore of Barbers Lake

Potential destruction of important pre-contact artifacts
Addition of up to 1000 trucks/day on a road rated for a maximum 499 vehicles/day
Loss of wildlife habitat in the vicinity of Barbers Lake and Long Sault Creek
Impact on property values and quality of life for waterfront and haul route communities
Damage to existing and future eco-tourism
Harm to water bodies through warmed water, potential contamination and silt
Threat to residents’ water supply, air quality, peace and well-being
Potential future demands, including a water taking licence, or permission to dewater

Impacts

Misconceptions

This is revenue for the Township!

Lanark Highlands Township gets only 13 cents per tonne of aggregate taken away from the Township forever - in this pit the maximum payout possible would be $130,000 per year, but likely much less - and MUCH MUCH less than the costs of road upgrades, loss of nature-based business and tourism, and the diminished value of properties throughout the area.

Aggregate is necessary for the growth and development of roads, housing and business!

Ontario has 13 times more aggregate than currently needed in already licensed pits