Cleanup work set to begin at St. Marys’ West Quarry

The first phase of clean up started on Monday at the West Quarry with the take down of the fence and the start of thinning out the overgrowth and removal of invasive plants. From left to right Public Works Manager Todd Thibodeau, Town employee Kenny Hutton, Director of Public Works Jed Kelly, Director of Culture, Tourism and Engagement Amy Cubberly, Town employee Alex Taylor and in the backhoe is Town Employee Norm Coulthard.

By Galen Simmons

After more than a year of planning, debate and public input, cleanup work at the West Quarry in St. Marys is set to begin Monday as the town moves forward with its plan to rehabilitate the former industrial site.

The work is part of the West Quarry enhancements project and is aimed at improving safety, removing industrial hazards and preparing the site for future passive recreational use.

“After all the conversations and preparation over the past year and a half, it almost seems surreal to be getting started,” said Amy Cubberley, the town’s director of culture, tourism and engagement. “The more I walk the site and see the hazards and current condition, the more excited I get for what this space could be.”

Construction is expected to take place throughout May and June, with restoration work completed ahead of the swimming quarry season, which begins June 26.

The cleanup will include removing sections of chain-link fencing along the west edge of the site to improve water access, as well as clearing waste concrete, steel and other debris left behind from the quarry’s industrial past. Overgrowth, invasiwv ve species and unhealthy trees will also be removed, with any trees taken down to be replaced at a three-to-one ratio elsewhere in the community.

The project is being supported through a partnership with the Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation (TOARC), which will cover the cost of removing industrial materials and placing clean fill at the site.

“TOARC has partnered with the town and will be covering the contracting costs to remove the industrial hazards,” Cubberley said, noting the organization will also cover geotechnical engineering and permitting costs.

To reduce expenses and environmental impact, the town is sourcing materials locally, including clay donated by a developer and topsoil generated from compost at the landfill. Removed concrete will be recycled for use in future infrastructure projects.

Town staff will begin initial work on the site, including removing fencing and clearing brush, before turning the site over to TOARC for heavy removals. Final restoration and landscaping will then be completed by town crews.

The project follows several council decisions over the past year, including a move to retain and fence off six large concrete pillars at the site rather than remove them entirely. Those pillars, remnants of the quarry’s limestone-mining operations, will be protected during cleanup work and incorporated into the site as a heritage feature.

“Work in the immediate vicinity of the pillars will largely be completed by hand in order to ensure that the pillars remain undisturbed,” Cubberley said, adding the structures will be fenced off and accompanied by interpretive signage.

Other improvements include regrading sections of the embankment and restoring the area with grass to create open greenspace.

“We are excited to work with TOARC to remove some of the existing hazards in this space and create an open and inviting space that residents and visitors will enjoy,” said director of public works Jed Kelly in a press release issued by the town last week.

Residents can expect temporary disruptions during construction, including the closure of a section of the Riverview Walkway between St. Maria Street and the racket courts for approximately five weeks. Nearby parking areas will also be closed to accommodate construction traffic, though access to the courts and Lind Sportsplex will remain unaffected.

Once complete, the town hopes the site will serve as a flexible greenspace for activities such as picnicking, fishing and enjoying the waterfront.

“Our hope is that by mid-summer 2026, the grass is established and this is an appealing greenspace for residents and visitors to enjoy,” Cubberley said.

Beyond this initial cleanup phase, the West Quarry is expected to remain a “blank canvas,” with any future development subject to further public consultation.