Big Hill Springs Provincial Park
Rocky View County has approved the development of a 30+ year gravel operation close to the boundary of Big Hill Springs Provincial Park – one of Alberta’s oldest parks which attracts approximately 250,000 visitors per year. The gravel operation requires approval by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas. The gravel mine is located on land overlying an aquifer that feeds a nationally significant thermal spring and Bighill Creek. There is community concern that the mine will irreparably damage the groundwater ecosystem, wetlands and tufa formations.
Bighill Creek Preservation Society is a non-profit organization with a mandate to advocate for the protection of the Bighill Creek watershed. The Society filed a statement of concern under the Water Act (Alberta) in January 2022 to oppose the gravel mine, and the Society is now seeking to appeal the approval issued by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas before the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board. The Clinic has been retained as legal counsel for the Society in the appeal proceedings. An appeal hearing date has not yet been scheduled. In September 2023 the Board directed the Society to make submissions on how it is directly affected by the approval issued by Alberta Environment for the mine project. In October 2023, the Clinic assisted the Society in making these submissions along with a request that the Board issue a Stay against the approval until the appeal is decided.
This matter is ongoing.
Related documents
- Society reply submission on directly affected status and the jurisdiction of the Director (November 8, 2023)
- Society submission on its directly affected status and seeking a Stay (October 12, 2023)
- Board letter to the Society (September 28, 2023)
- Notice of Appeal filed under the Water Act (Alberta)
- Approval, Water Act, RSA 2000, c.W-3, as amended
- Statement of Concern filed under the Water Act (Alberta)
- Petition to halt development of Big Hill Springs Gravel Pit
In the news
- Cochrane Now (August 4, 2023), Fight continues to protect Big Hill Springs Provincial Park
- CTV News (August 11, 2023), Preservation society calls on Alberta government to rethink approval of gravel pit near Big Hill Springs Provincial Park
- Calgary Herald (March 25, 2024), Appeals board rejects bid to halt contentious gravel mining near Big Hill Springs Provincial Park