RM of Hanover council considering gravel operation

The RM of Hanover is considering a gravel operation on 74-acre parcel at 31041 Road 27E about one mile west of Roseville Drive.

Multiple drill holes in the property reveal that there is coarse gravel about 40 feet deep at the north end of the property. Diamond Construction and Gravel general manager Doug Hamm said the north end will be mined with the stockpile stored in the centre of the property. Setbacks as required in the Mines and Minerals Act from existing residents have been accounted for in the site plan. The land is currently zoned as Agriculture Limited.

There is a 150-meter buffer distance from the extraction site and nearby residences and about 1,200 meters to the nearest Rural Residential designated area located in the east. The truck haul route will exit the property on the west side and proceed westward on Road 31N before reaching PR 216 therefore the impact to the Rural Residential area will be minimal.

Diamond Construction has agreed to pay the RM 45-cents per tonne of gravel collected for road maintenance which over a 10-year period will come to $150,000. Hamm said operating hours will be between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday to Friday with exceptions on Saturday if needed. Dust suppression equipment will be used, as well trees and berms to suppress noise. There will be environmental remediation after the mine closes.

“Our highest priorities are the health and safety of our employees and the public who we may encounter during the course of our work. We respect the environment and the resource in it. Harvesting non-renewable resources safely and effectively… is a continuous practice in our operations,” said Hamm noting a fence will be put up to prevent ATVs from entering the area.

He estimated the project will take about 10 years to mine the area of coarse gravel.

Council has sent the project back to the planning committee where it will return for a vote on June 11.