Construction of quarry has been scrapped

The controversial proposal to build a Quarry in the township of Melanchton just outside of Toronto, has been abandoned.

According to the Globe & Mail, the Highland companies have withdrawn their plans to build a massive limestone quarry, one that would cover 765 hectares of Ontario farmland.

The original projection to extract one billion tonnes of the stone over the course of the next century would have made it one of the largest rock mines on the continent.

There was immediate resistance from the surrounding communities as well as Toronto politicians and activists.

They believe the environmental and social toll would be too great to ignore.

In addition to withdrawing their application, the president of the company, John Lowndes, has stepped down.

Flickr Photo by: valeehill

STORY WRITTEN BY: CHLOE DENEUMOUSTIER