In a show of unity against the proposed Reid Road Reservoir Quarry, Milton council members voted unanimously on Monday (Aug. 12) to support MPP Parm Gill’s request to the environment ministry for an immediate environmental assessment of the site.

Loud claps echoed through the chamber after all members stood up in favour of the motion, which was put forward by Coun. Kristina Tesser Derksen and seconded by Coun. Colin Best.

Derksen said the environmental assessment is “a very important step” to ensure that the application filed by James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL) will go through a more thorough process to evaluate the project’s impacts on the environment — more so than what a regular review for the licence would entail.

“This is clearly an environmentally sensitive area,” said Derksen of the proposed location for a pit and quarry in Campbellville.

JDCL plans to extract 990,000 tonnes of aggregate per year by underwater blasting on the 72-acre site.

Among the concerns that residents have raised for the past year include the potential risks to the community’s drinking water source, air quality, heavy truck traffic on local roads, flying rock and more.

Best, who plans to put forth a similar motion at Halton Regional Council meeting next month, said the issue will not only affect Campbellville, but also other areas in Milton. The same point was made by Coun. Mike Cluett, who urged residents to voice their opposition.

The move to call for the minister of Environment, Conservation, and Parks to conduct an environmental assessment on the proposed site was first announced at a public meeting held by community organization ACTION Milton late last month, which was also attended by some local and regional councillors.

It was then that Mayor Gord Krantz suggested to make the town’s endorsement of the review request official.

The passed motion stated that the council and staff would continue to work with all levels of government to facilitate the environmental assessment. In addition, a copy of the resolution would be circulated to federal, provincial and regional authorities, as well as related agencies.