The Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources has issued a Quarry permit for Lot 509 and 510, also known as Cheema Lands in Garibaldi Highlands.
The proponent is allowed to extract a maximum of 2000 tonnes per year for five years from a portion of the land, using two new access roads. The permit allows nine mineral extraction areas or pits for stone extraction.
The permit was issued on April 3 and will expire in 2025.
According to the permit, hours of mining are from 8 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. No work is allowed on Saturday, Sunday or statutory holidays, although light maintenance is permitted on Saturdays between 9 am and 4 pm.
Traffic on local residential roads that is related to the mine, including the road building, must be limited to outside of school times. Trucks also must not use Highlands Way North while alternatives exist, the permit notes.
Developer Bob Cheema applied for a quarry permit in October last year after housing plans were rejected by the council in 2018 because of population threshold restrictions.
In December last year, council wrote to the ministry, asking it to reject the mining application citing health risk to nearby neighbourhoods.
District will discuss the approval at a council meeting today, although local council approval is not required for mining permit in BC, said Kent Karemaker, a media relation officer for the ministry.
The application was referred to the district and their input considered, Karemaker said.
G.Benoît says
I am so happy that this is going through…The DOS is made of a bunch of no brains, who don’t know their asses from a whole in the ground, mostly the “adminisTrator”, who, sinse getting the job, has tried so hard to destroy this town, bit by bit….We’re way overdue for a new gang in the Muni hall….Thank you…
Grim Donut says
What the golden hell are you talking about?? We just had a municipal election where 5 of 6 council seats changed along with the mayor position. Also, it’s a “hole” in the ground.
Brian MOORHEAD says
Just what we need another constant convoy of slow moving trucks to join the Watts Points operation.
Jonathan says
Worth noting is that there is now another OCP amendment request in front of council to revisit the change of zoning from ‘Future Residential Neighborhood’ to ‘Residential Neighborhood’ in order to allow for residential development.
Whilst I support the land owners right to develop, I look forwards to seeing meaningful community engagement and a delivery on the ‘promises made’ rather than a continuation of the smoke and mirrors and political chess games we’ve seen to date.
I continue to appreciate the land owners provision of access for recreation.
David Colwell says
I truly feel sorry for those home owners who will be right adjacent to a couple of the extraction pits. There will be vibration and even blasting in some cases. I hope they have their lawyers lined up. I also blame Council for their action on this…If they had allowed a residential development this would not have happened. And it will anyway after they have done their mining. Absolute BS! Oh…Of course the friggin’ traffic too!