A group of local gravel companies have informally banded together to raise awareness about the need for local gravel supply and to raise industry concerns.
The group, representing Burnco, Inland, Lafarge and Volker Stevin, presented a discussion paper to Rocky View County councillors, Sept. 13.
Ron Wrigley, the group’s representative, presented an argument for close-to-market gravel pits.
“Rocky View and Calgary use about 11 million tonnes per year of aggregate concrete and asphalt,” said Wrigley.
Importing gravel from outside the county means steeper construction and public infrastructure costs, as well as more wear and tear to roads and more pollution, he added.
According to Wrigley, the Calgary region has about 200 million tonnes of raw aggregate in approved pits, the bulk of which are located west and northwest of the city.
However, it is estimated about 760 million tonnes will be needed to support growth over the next 50 years, and recycling won’t meet the demand, said Wrigley. In fact, he estimated supply in approved pits would run out by about 2030.
Wrigley said the demand will have to be met by removing gravel from along river valleys and streams in west Rocky View. Glendale, Big Hill Springs and Weedon Trail areas offer a likely spot for the resource.
To date, many gravel pit applications have been met with public opposition. To combat the community backlash, Wrigley said it is important for gravel industry members to engage the public through community consultation and the use of good-neighbour agreements.
The informal group will engage in a public awareness process starting this fall, according to Wrigley.
“We are certainly wanting to be open and transparent with any stakeholders that want to come to us,” he said.
Wrigley also said there is a need for the creation of County policies regarding gravel extraction, citing the findings of the Reeve’s Task Force on Growth Planning, which states the municipality should plan how and where gravel operations are approved.
That comprehensive planning would include identifying truck routes and ways to lessen the impacts on neighbours, and would provide long-term certainty for industry.
Councillor Paul McLean agreed there is a need for County policies.
“I think there should be some standards,” he said, adding a prescreening process would make the approval process easier.
Councillor Lois Habberfield agreed the County should adopt a gravel policy, but warned getting buy-in from residents wouldn’t be easy.
“You are still going to run into resistance,” she said. “They don’t care... they don’t want the gravel pit in their area.”
Habberfield said she is supportive of getting the gravel locally, but only if the issues of noise, safety, decreasing property values, and environmental concerns could be worked out.
“It is a valuable resource and needs to be available,” she said. “But only if the irritation factors can be mitigated.”
Councillors accepted the discussion paper for information.
