New gravel pit proposed for Westside Road

The issue of gravel pits, which fueled the fire of controversy starting in Revelstoke in 2010 has quietly reentered the public sphere.

At the upcoming August 11 city council meeting, councillors will review a development permit application for a sand and gravel extract and processing site, on 274 and 322 Westside Road, across the river from the Revelstoke Golf Club.

Gravel pits and their environmental and resident health impacts have been discussed over the past years in Revelstoke. It reached fever pitch in 2010 when Interoute Construction proposed and went ahead with an expansion from five to 120 acres of open-pit mine on Westside Road.

In response to health concerns of exposure to crystalline silica in dust, Revelstoke city council in April 2011 asked the provincial environment ministry and Worksafe BC for comments on test results from the Interoute gravel pit, after council found them inconclusive.

And in 2013, the North Columbia Environmental Society requested that the Columbia Shuswap Regional District grant no more gravel pit permits within the air shed of the city of Revelstoke.

The current applicant Revelstoke Sand & Gravel Ltd (RSG) are proposing an 8.1 hectare quarry site, which is currently forested and will need to be logged and before mining goes ahead.

If councillors approve the recommendation at the meeting, RSG will need a biologist to prepare a report and identify any watercourses on the site before a development permit is approved.