Concern and controversy continue in Lanark Highlands with new Highland Line Pit proposal

As previously reported by Lanarkist in May 2024, there has been an ongoing opposition burgeoning among local residents in regard to Cavanagh Construction’s proposed Highland Line Pit near Barbers Lake and McDonalds Corners.

Their primary concerns include environmental impacts, increased traffic, and potential health risks associated with the excavation process. 

On Jan. 15, Cavanagh Construction (TCCL) announced a revised proposal for its Highland Line Pit project, sparking renewed concerns among local residents and environmental groups. The updated plan outlines revisions provided by MHBC Consultants on behalf of TCCL, including excavation below the water table, removal of up to 500,000 tonnes of material annually, and frequent trucks traversing the area. 

TCCL has their sights set on this proposed pit due to the possibility of extracting at least two million tonnes of sand and gravel resources, explaining, “A large portion of the subject geological deposit is mapped by the province as being a sand and gravel resource area of ‘primary significance’ in the county.”

The pit site consists of two parcels separated by Anderson Lane, both of which travel along the Highland Line. The eastern corner of the site is adjacent to Barbers Lake, while Long Sault Creek, a cold-water feature, lies to the south.

According to TCCL, “At their closest point, Barbers Lake and Long Sault Creek are located more than 110 metres and 185 metres from the proposed extraction area, respectively. A 30-metre minimum setback is also being applied next to all wetlands.”

For local residents like the Wheeler family, who own Wheeler’s Maple just 1.5 km down the road from the proposed pit site – one of the main sources of outrage when they heard about the initial proposal was the idea of the noise, traffic, and potential environmental impact caused by large trucks leaving the site daily.

According to TCCL, “Based on the Traffic Impact Study, it is estimated that under worst case conditions 30 trucks will leave the site on an hourly basis. This is an absolute worst-case maximum traffic scenario which is permitted by the noise study. It is more likely that the traffic generated from this pit will be significantly lower.”

The company also clarified that despite being operational 24 hours a day, “Any aggregate processing including any screening, washing or crushing would not be permitted between the hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Typically speaking the majority of pit operations including trucking would occur during the day.”

Despite their attempts to assuage the concerns of residents and business owners in the area, it seems the objecters are not ready to back down anytime soon. 

According to a press release provided by community member Carolee Mason, “Concerns about Cavanagh’s proposal continue to grow. More than 5,000 signatories registered with the online petition Save Barbers Lake and Long Sault Creek, more than 250 official letters of concern were sent during the MNRF’s Aggregate Resources Application process.”

All citizens who previously submitted official letters of concern will once again have the option of voicing any new or continued opposition to the new proposal. These objections must be registered within 20 days of the release of official ‘Objection Forms’, which have not yet been distributed. Mason clarified to Lanarkist, “We have been advised by the consultant from MHBC, Neal DeRuyter, to expect them sometime in early February.”

Only those who previously wrote letters of concern to the Aggregate Resources Office of the MNRF before the deadline will be allowed to use the objection forms. 

Mason elaborated, “Other community members, who learned too late to submit letters of concern to the ARA, or had no chance to review the technical reports and respond in time, are still allowed to submit letters expressing their concerns to the Township of Lanark Highlands and the County of Lanark.“

Mason shared that to date, the township has received in excess of 1,000 individual contacts, through letters, emails, phone calls and online posts in regard to this situation.

Lanarkist will continue to provide more information on this situation as it develops.