What is rehabilitation of aggregate sites?
Rehabilitation of aggregate pits and quarries is the process of restoring the land from which aggregates have been excavated. Rehabilitation can either return the land to its former use or condition, or change the land to another use or condition that is compatible with the surrounding land.
Are aggregate operators required to rehabilitate aggregate pits and quarries?
Yes. In Ontario, when aggregate operations are regulated by the Aggregate Resources Act, the act requires operators to rehabilitate land from which aggregates have been extracted.
Rehabilitation must be done progressively. Operators must rehabilitate parts of the site where they are finished operating while they continue to extract aggregates in other areas.
What does rehabilitation involve?
As a part of the application for approval to excavate aggregate from a site, an operator must submit a plan that states how the site will be rehabilitated.
Site plans include maps and diagrams showing how the site will be rehabilitated, with details such as
- how the topsoil and other material removed to extract aggregates will be used to rehabilitate the site
- how the site will be graded or sloped in the areas where aggregates were extracted
- what the land will be restored to, such as an agriculture field, a natural area,
- a park, or an industrial use
- what areas will become lakes or ponds
- what trees, shrubs, crops, plants and grasses will be planted, and where.
How are rehabilitated sites used?
Sites of aggregate pits and quarries have been turned into natural heritage areas, wetlands, habitat for wildlife, farmland, parks, fruit orchards, vineyards, communities and recreational fishing areas.
Some examples of former aggregate sites that are now popular parks, public facilities and successful communities include:
- The Don Valley Brickworks in Toronto
- Christie Pits park in Toronto
- Elora Quarry – a popular swimming attraction
- The rock garden at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton
- Parr Lake North Park and Parr Lake South Park communities in Brampton
- Professor’s Lake in Brampton
Examples of former sand and gravel pits that have been restored to use as land for growing field crops, fruit and grapes can be found in Puslinch, Fonthill and Lincoln.
Rehabilitated aggregate sites provide opportunities to create a wide variety of habitats including habitat for rare or endangered species. Scientists have learned that habitats formerly common in Ontario, such as tallgrass prairies, wetlands and alvars, can be recreated to attract native species.
Sites that have been rehabilitated to provide habitat include Kelso Quarry Park in Milton, the McMillan Pit in Puslinch and Kerncliff Park in Burlington.
