Big Hill Spring Gravel Pit Ltd. held an open house on Feb. 14 at Weedon Pioneer Hall near Cochrane. The open house was held to discuss the pending development permit for land currently disturbed by the gravel pit.
Only three people attended the open house: two nearby residents who refused to comment and a representative of Lafarge, a neighbouring business who was not permitted to talk to the media.
Representatives of Big Hill Springs said the lack of attendees shows that Rocky View County residents are satisfied with the measures taken by the company to mitigate complaints of noise, dust and visual impacts.
“If we’re doing something wrong or need to be doing something, if we’re aware of it we can handle it,” said operations manager Dale Collins during the open house.
Those measures are detailed in the company’s master site development plan (MSDP), which is available to view at www.rockyview.ca
Because the crushing equipment is now on the floor of the pit and will remain there, as it states in the MSDP, Big Hill Springs civil engineer Robert Kelham believes noise is no longer a concern. A water truck is on-site to mitigate dust, and there is a 30-metre setback in place. A transportation impact assessment (TIA) stated there are no sight concerns.
Collins said the gravel pit has been under its current ownership for about five years and it employs a number of people from Cochrane and area.
Not compelled by law to hold an open house, he said it was for neighbours to bring forward questions and concerns.
Kelham said the development permit covers the 40-acre portion of their quarter-section that is currently disturbed by the gravel pit.
“There’s another 120 acres in the quarter section and it will be decades and decades before all of that is mined,” said Kelham, adding the company will need another permit to start mining the rest of the land.
According to the MSDP, reclamation includes moving overburden and topsoil back into the pit so it can be seeded.
“We have a reclamation plan that’s busy growing and a stormwater plan and other erosion and sediment control plans, all these plans are busy being developed,” said Kelham.
“Some of them, sections of them will be completed prior to Big Hill Springs getting a development permit.”
