Attention: Residents of Mountain View County and Red Deer County in Eagle Valley
As many of you are aware, Border Paving Ltd. (Red Deer) has been successful in getting approval from Mountain View County council to redesignate 109.6 acres of SE 23-34-4-5 from Agricultural District to Aggregate Extraction/Processing. The purpose for this redesignation is for extraction and crushing of gravel, as well as asphalt production. Border Paving intends to use the gravel and asphalt for their paving operations throughout Northern and Central Alberta.
Following first reading, a public hearing was held on April 22 in response to 72 letters of concern from residents of Mountain View County and Red Deer County. At this hearing, there were numerous excellent presentations with relevant concerns, such as health, safety and the environment. Despite Mountain View County having policies to protect environmentally sensitive areas and agricultural land, council carried second and third readings at that public hearing, and the redesignation was approved.
We feel unheard in a county whose single strategic goal for the environment is to apply “maximum influence to protect and preserve the region’s unique and precious natural environment” (Mountain View County website).
As a result, eight local residents began meeting on May 13, and have named the group the Eagle Creek Valley Landowners’ Association.
In addition to the obvious impact to quality of life for residents of the valley, our primary concern is environmental.
The potential impact to air and water quality in the valley and downstream is significant. Eagle Creek runs through the southeast portion of the Border Paving property, and empties into the Red Deer River. In addition to this, the water table is very high, and during periods of flooding, some of this property is submerged.
Another concern is the disturbing fact that this gravel pit would be a third within Eagle Valley.
We have scheduled an information meeting at the James River Community Hall on June 28 from 10 a.m. until noon. We would like to invite everyone who is impacted by this decision, as well as anyone with concerns about gravel pits and their effect on our environment.
Please come, have a coffee with us and find out what we are hoping to accomplish.
Marg Funfer
Bowden