Endangered salamanders put quarry on hold as residents fight against project
A group of Ontario residents trying to ward off the development of a new quarry in their community say they have found two endangered salamanders that they hope will convince authorities to put an end to the project.
The Burlington, Ont., residents say the discovery of the Jefferson dependant unisexual salamanders should force the province to reconsider the development by Meridian Brick, which has had two active quarries in the area for decades.
“This is a real coup,” said Maria Adcock, who lives nearby and is part of the Tyandaga Environmental Coalition. “This is a beautiful area that shouldn’t be developed and this discovery should help save the forest.”
Meridian has had rights to develop a third quarry since 1972, but hadn’t acted on it until two years ago.