Feb. 27, 2023 — Press release from Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association

Nelson Aggregate Co. Burlington Quarry receives the 2022 Progressive Rehabilitation Award from the Ontario Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association (OSSGA). The award recognizes the ongoing efforts of individual operators to progressively rehabilitate their sites per their site plans.

Since 2011, Burlington Quarry has taken significant steps closer to its final rehabilitation plans. Its goal is to transform the site into a lake with an island near the centre of the Quarry and create 3:1 side slopes lining the perimeter of the licensed boundary. Over the past decade, rehabilitation efforts have been focused on the site’s south face. Nearly 63,000 cubic metres of fill, waste rock and overburden material has been spread over a 502-hectare site using a D8 dozer and contoured to a slope ranging between 4:1 and 5:1.

“We are honoured to receive OSSGA’s Progressive Rehabilitation Award for the Burlington quarry,” said Quinn Moyer, President of Nelson Aggregates. “I’m proud of the work the team has done to turn the east side of the quarry into a rich ecosystem, and I’m looking forward to the day the fully rehabilitated quarry will be a green space that residents from around the area will be able to enjoy.”

As per its Progressive & Final Rehabilitation site plan, nearly five metres at the top of the limestone quarry face was left exposed. The vegetative component includes a number of plant species such as curly dock, giant wild rye and white heath aster.

Another view of the rehabilitated east side of the quarry. Photo: OSSGA.


“OSSGA promotes excellence among its members by encouraging them to efficiently run their operations, responsibly manage the land they work on, and actively participate in and contribute to their communities,” says Norm Cheesman, Executive Director of OSSGA. “The 2022 Industry Recognition Award winners have surpassed OSSGA’s expectation in fulfilling those objectives.”

OSSGA is a non-profit industry association representing over 280 sand, gravel and crushed stone producers and suppliers of valuable industry products and services. Collectively, our members produce a large majority of the approximately 164 million tonnes of aggregate consumed annually on average in the province to build and maintain Ontario’s infrastructure needs. OSSGA works in partnership with government and the public to promote a safe and competitive aggregate industry contributing to the
creation of strong communities in the province.