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The Canadian Champion, Friday, May 25, 2007 - A3 Dufferin Aggregates working on closing quarry gap By Melanie Hennessey CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Dufferin Aggregates is trying to figure out the best way to improve the appearance of the legendary 'gap' it created in the Niagara Escarpment several decades ago. The company turned to local residents for their input on the situation at a public meeting held Tuesday evening at the Holiday Inn. About a dozen citizens came out for the event to learn about the options being proposed to screen the gap thats located at the entrance to the operating area of Dufferins Milton quarry A plan to deal with the gap is required as a condition of the recent quarry expansion approval. Land use planner James Parkin told the small group of residents that in the short term, Dufferin is going to make sure there are as many trees as possible in the gap area to screen its appearance. Planting and rehabilitation work has been going on around the gap for some time. He also said in the long term, meaning after the quarry has ceased operations in 15 to 25 years, four options for the gap are being considered. They include: • Building a new landform out of fill behind the gap • Creating a tunnel in the gap with fill on top • Partially filling the gap with a planting terrace • Fully filling the gap to recreate a continuous escarp- ment. "This (the last option) is probably the closest you could get to turning back to clock," Parkin said, but noted it some ways it puts up a barrier for the animals that currently use the opening to move through. One man asked how much the various options would cost, but Parkin said thats something that still bas to be worked out. "The movement of large amounts of fill is very expen- sive," he pointed out. \Drunk driving case in court A young Milton man charged with drunk driving in a col- lision that killed an Orangeville man will return to court early next month. Alvaro Diaz, 21, bas been charged with impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, having over the legal limit of alcohol in his blood, driving with alcohol above zero with a G2 licence and using unauthorized licence plates. His next appearance is slated for June 5 at Ontario Court of Justice in Milton on Steeles Avenue. The return court date was set May 15 at the Milton courthouse. The fatal two-vehicle collision took place February 2 on Regional Road 25, south of No. 5 Sideroad, killing a 48-year- old motorist just before 3 a.m. C anpbellville resident Gary Williams questioned if it', possible to implement the tunnel option before the quarry closes down. "We build bridges over the 401 all the time Bourrie. -The gap meai ple." For No. 15 Sideroad without closing the road o." docsnt conjure up posît Andrea Bourrie, Dufferins property and resource manag- "I don't like the gap,' er, explained that currently theres not a lot of extra room in they didn't have to answ the gap for the trucks to move through, so creating a tunnel While McMeeken dc now would limit the full operation of the quarry. pietely favours, she did After the meeting, Williams told the Champion he would tives presented. like to see the tunnel option implemented down the road. "Ifs a bit unrealistic "It maintains access but blocks off the visual aspects of before," she said. "If the the gap," he said. haif of Ontario to fI th The gap was created in 1962 and its widely thought that A committee, which its existence led to the Niagara Escarpment Commission Milton and Haiton His being formed to prevent similar situations from happening the gap issue. again. Melanie Hennessey c "In that way, it (the gap) bas had a positive impact," said canadianchampion.com. is diffcrent things to different peo- resident Marion McMeeken, the gap ive thoughts. she said. "I think it shows they felt er to anybody" esn't yet have one option she com- share her thoughts on the alterna- to try and create what was there y can do something without moving e gap, that would be good." includes citizen representatives from , has been formed to look further at an be reached at mhennessey@milton-