Activity to resume at Walker Aggregates’ Amherstburg quarry

operate well into the future,” she said. “The Amherstburg Quarry is projectdriven, for materials required in the local market. It is strategically important as we continue to build and grow the needs of the Essex region to have local aggregate resources. We evaluate the needs of the market and its demand for stone and scale the operations to adjust.”

By Ron Giofu

Walker Aggregates’ quarry in Amherstburg will be busy with activity very soon.

The company has announced it is resuming activity at the quarry, located at 667 Simcoe St., at the corner of Meloche Road. According to Navia Sharma, senior vice president of marketing and corporate affairs, Walker Aggregates is bringing the Amherstburg Quarry back online to meet the infrastructure and construction requirements for local aggregate sources “for the rapid growth in Amherstburg and Essex County.”

“The Amherstburg Quarry is an ideal location and provides easy access to the market for aggregates for construction. With aggregate materials, it is essential to be close to the market due to the high trucking costs and environmental impact,” said Sharma. “The McGregor Quarry produces aggregates year-round, and given its central location in Essex County, makes it the primary source for construction aggregate of the two quarries.”

Stone produced will go towards supplying existing and upcoming infrastructure projects, such as road rehabilitations, water supply systems, and many other construction projects scheduled for the Town of Amherstburg, and surrounding municipalities, she stated.

“We are excited to also once again provide high quality aggregates for the Town of Amherstburg residents,” said Sharma.

“The demand in Essex County for quality aggregates remains strong and we see the demand for the extensive road rehabilitation and upgrades to the water supply systems. We’re excited to be bringing the quarry back to the Amherstburg community and to serve our customers’ construction projects with self-service and responsible operations. We’re here to work together and committed to working in partnership,” added Maurice Guimont, general manager –Walker Aggregates Niagara & Essex.

The site has been inactive since 2017 and “can easily be re-activated and allows us to respond to the local market demand quickly and safely,” she added.

Sharma stated operating as a responsible industrial neighbour “is a top priority for Walker Industries” and they plan a three phase approach to reactivating the Amherstburg quarry.

“The first phase of re-activation is clearing the natural growth and site preparation. During this time, you’ll see us building new berms and stripping away overgrown areas,” she said.

“The second phase is the mobilization of equipment, which allows us to bring the right equipment to site. Neighbours can expect to see some trucking movement as this phase takes shape.”

Sharma continued: “The third phase is activation. At this stage, the careful blasting process to access stone, which will happen soon after, will commence. Neighbours can expect low-frequency of blasting, with an average of one to two blasts per month. Trucking routes will be active as customers and contractors come through the loading and scaling stations. All entry points for traffic are clearly marked to ensure safe operations.”

The Amherstburg quarry will be operational from approximately 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sharma said the company expects to be fully online with operations by late May.

“Our Amherstburg and McGregor Quarry operations consists of 45+ employees, with jobs comprised of union, salaried and management staff,” she stated. “With the total operations of both quarries, we have a full complement of staff and will shift staff members from McGregor to the Amherstburg Quarry. All of our staff are proud members of the local community. Walker Industries is regularly recruiting and hires staff locally.”

Amherstburg Quarry was first established in 1959, and Walker Industries has owned and operated it since 2012.

“The aggregate reserves at the Amherstburg Quarry allow us to

Sharma added: “The Amherstburg Quarry and Essex County are very important to Walker Industries. The Southwest Ontario market is served by the two quarries; McGregor and Amherstburg and are operated with state-of-the-art equipment and dedicated staff. As a family-owned owner and operator, we’re committed to operating as a community partner and invested in the long-term success of Essex County.”

Sharma pointed out Walker Aggregates has recently made donations to multiple local organizations including the AMA Sportsmen Association, Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club, the Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Museum, and Gesstwood Camp to name a few.

“The Walker Team will welcome the local community, neighbours and families to join us for our ‘Neighbour Appreciation Event’ in late August,” said Sharma. “An invite will be shared by mail. We look forward to hosting a barbeque, site tours, and a ‘touch a truck’ opportunity to see the incredible quarry equipment up close. We’re looking forward to a great day for this event and it’s our continued commitment to operating with strong public liaison committees.”