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<\/p>\nA quarry operator is hoping a pitch to transport aggregate 4.5 kilometres by conveyor belt to its facility at Spy Hill will break a logjam that\u2019s seen the plan for a huge gravel pit in Bearspaw rejected three times since 1995.<\/p>\n
But opponents say they remain unconvinced and are once again rallying to kill the plan by German multinational Heidelberg Materials to finally unlock the 243 hectares of pastureland at Rocky Ridge Road and 144th Avenue N.W. on Calgary\u2019s city limit.<\/p>\n
They say carcinogenic silica dust kicked up by the quarrying, threats to groundwater, noise and a hit to property values are still concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t just a Rocky View County concern, Calgary should be way more concerned,\u201d said Olympic gold medal speedskater Catriona Le May Doan, who lives about one kilometre from the proposed site.<\/p>\n
She said fast-growing Calgary subdivisions to the east of the planned quarry are downwind of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe health and environment side is the most important side and I don\u2019t care about the conveyor belts . . . it\u2019ll continue to have an effect on the groundwater.\u201d<\/p>\n
But she said most frustrating for residents in the area is that their efforts to have the quarry rejected three times are being disregarded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe voice of the community is being ignored, for 30 years we\u2019ve been fighting this,\u201d said Le May Doan.<\/p>\n
\u2018A complete end-run on municipal decision-making,\u2019 says area councillor<\/p>\n
Retiree Rod Lipman, whose home is only metres from the edge of the proposed quarry, echoed those sentiments and predicted his property value would \u201ccrater\u201d if the project is approved on land he considers a buffer from four other gravel pits currently operating.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt brings it closer to a lot of people who bought and made their homes here . . . we\u2019re essentially at ground zero,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hear the crusher from the (nearby Stoney Trail Aggregate Resource) pit every morning and night; our big concern is the cumulative effect.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Rocky View County residents Rod Lipman, who lives right next to the land, and Catriona Le May Doan, are not happy about a proposed gravel pit just northwest of Calgary at Rocky Ridge Road and 144th Avenue N.W. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.<\/p>\n
After Rocky View County council rejected the proposal in February 2021<\/a>, lawmakers amended area structure and resource plans that imposed effectively banned gravel pits from rural residential areas like Bearspaw.<\/p>\n But since then, the province has referred Heidelberg\u2019s proposal to the Natural Resources Conservation Board, which is currently determining whether the pit would be \u201cin the public interest of Albertans.\u201d According to the NRCB, it could be approved next year following a public hearing.<\/p>\n That renders local democracy moot, said county Coun. Samanntha Wright, adding it is part of a trend of the UCP government usurping municipal powers as personified in Bill 28.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a complete end-run on municipal decision-making \u2014 why bother having municipalities?\u201d said Wright.<\/p>\n \u201cEnough is enough, how many times do you need to say no (to a project)?\u201d<\/p>\n Residents in Rocky View County just northwest of Calgary at Rocky Ridge Road and 144th Avenue N.W. are not happy about a proposed gravel pit in their area. Photo taken on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.<\/p>\n Company touts benefits to gravel pit<\/p>\n According to the company, the project\u2019s three-year construction period would add $43.4 million to the Calgary area\u2019s GDP and create 367 jobs.<\/p>\n The Calgary region, said the company, badly needs the aggregate resource beneath the gently rolling ground of the so-called Scott Property at the city\u2019s northwest boundary because existing pits are running low.<\/p>\n Throughout the 25- to 30-year life of the quarry, the company said it would pump $21.35 million into county coffers in taxes and levies.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, Heidelberg mailed out brochures in surrounding communities to explain the project and advertise Wednesday\u2019s open house on the project held at the Bearspaw Community Centre.<\/p>\n At the event, Heidelberg Land Manager Dale Soetaert tried to allay concerns of locals and noted Rocky View County administrators had recommended the project be approved prior to all three council rejections.<\/p>\n He said the company will take steps to monitor groundwater quality and reduce dust exposure while considering feedback from their neighbours.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of these things are finalized yet \u2014 we can take their concerns and consider them as we continue to build our application,\u201d said Soetaert.<\/p>\n As for a potential impact on property values, he said the company is undertaking \u201ca socio-economic study\u201d and an appraisal of real estate values in the area.<\/p>\n A Heidelberg Materials staffer (L) answers residents\u2019 questions about the company\u2019s proposed Scott Project at an open house at the Bearspaw Community Centre on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.<\/p>\n Calgary residents in the area have long complained about massive volumes of gravel truck traffic at 112th Avenue and Country Hills Boulevard that they say pose safety hazards and leave behind gravel spills.<\/p>\n Soetaert said Heidelberg will be ceasing its current operations at its 112th Avenue pit in the next three to four years \u201cso we don\u2019t anticipate a large increase in truck traffic.\u201d<\/p>\n The conveyor belt will eliminate 70,000 truck trips a year from the Scott Property, said Heidelberg.<\/p>\n Soetaert said the close proximity of the Scott pit to its existing operation and the city makes economic sense for everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cIt keeps the price of gravel affordable for everyone and by having it close to where it\u2019s consumed, the less impacts you\u2019ll have,\u201d said Soetaert.<\/p>\n \u201cSand and gravel is needed, whether you like it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the next 25 years, the city will need more than 600 million tonnes of sand and gravel to construct roads and buildings, says the company.<\/p>\n Residents examine Heidelberg Materials displays on the company\u2019s proposed Scott Project at an open house Wednesday at the Bearspaw Community Centre.<\/p>\n At one point during the open house, Bearspaw resident Lynn Nickel climbed on a table and loudly confronted Heidelberg staffers, calling their presentation \u201cpropaganda.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPut this in your backyard, would you accept this? I want one of you to come here and say you would accept this,\u201d she said to cheers.<\/p>\n And opponents, like Church Ranches resident John Weatherill, said gravel can be mined economically at other sites well-removed from residential areas.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only part of the province that\u2019s not gravel-rich is extreme northern Alberta \u2014 there are many other places in the province that would be more suitable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/18d5a6839aa68c9ef47ffff90577c007.jpeg\"\/)
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