St. Marys approves new bylaw governing public use of West Quarry

By Galen Simmons

As work to transform the West Quarry into a passive recreational space nears completion, St. Marys council has approved a new bylaw establishing the rules governing how the public can use the site.

Council passed the new quarries bylaw at its June 23 regular meeting, replacing the town’s previous quarry bylaw and introducing regulations specific to the newly redeveloped West Quarry while maintaining rules for the East Quarry.

“As we’re reaching a point of substantial completion for the West Quarry enhancement, we are looking to provide a housekeeping matter because of the current provisions in the quarries bylaw,” said St. Marys clerk Jenna McCartney. “ … There is a list of examples of how we are looking to not formally amend (the bylaw) but put forward a brand-new bylaw.”

The new bylaw formally permits fishing from the land surrounding the quarry, the use of human-powered watercraft such as canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, and passive recreational activities within the West Quarry between dawn and dusk. It also formally renames the quarries from the Swimming Quarry and Fishing Quarry to the East Quarry and West Quarry respectively.

Unlike the East Quarry, which is designated for supervised swimming and non-motorized watercraft only when municipal lifeguards are on duty, the West Quarry has been designed as a passive recreational space centred on enjoying the waterfront and surrounding greenspace.

“Swimming; we are maintaining a prohibition of that in the West Quarry at this present time,” McCartney said. “I have been asked a very realistic question; why? I don’t have a great answer for that right now, other than at one point in time, the town’s insurer suggested that was not a risk-adverse option for the town, so we’re investigating that with our insurer right now and waiting to hear feedback.

“Should we be stopping it and, if we do, what does that look like?”

The bylaw prohibits overnight use of either quarry and bans access to the West Quarry water surface annually from Dec. 1 through March 30 – a measure that effectively prohibits ice fishing due to the potential risks associated with shifting ice.

It also prohibits members of the public from entering areas that have been posted as restricted or closed.

To help protect both visitors and the newly restored site, the bylaw also prohibits climbing quarry structures, rock faces, overhangs and fencing, as well as damaging vegetation, fencing or other infrastructure. Visitors are also prohibited from entering areas undergoing repairs or restoration work.

Violations of the bylaw can result in fines under the Provincial Offences Act.

The bylaw comes as the town wraps up the West Quarry enhancements project, a months-long effort to remove industrial hazards left behind from the site’s former quarry operations and prepare it for public use.

Cleanup work included removing waste concrete, steel and other debris, clearing invasive vegetation and hazardous trees, improving access to the water and creating new greenspace while preserving six historic concrete quarry pillars as a heritage feature.

When the project was announced earlier this year, town officials described the goal as creating a flexible public space where residents and visitors could enjoy activities such as fishing, paddling, picnicking and relaxing along the waterfront while leaving future enhancements open to further public consultation.