Public understanding of aggregate extraction activities is achieved by inclusive and transparent stakeholder involvement in all major steps of the resource development, including siting, footprint design, operations and rehabilitation. No one has all of the answers but collaborative efforts can lead to better solutions, better decisions and better outcomes.
Core requirements
a) The applicant, or one or more persons employed or engaged by the applicant, has a track record of proactively engaging local communities and other stakeholders in matters such as siting, footprint design, operation and closure/rehabilitation of its aggregate extraction sites specifically:
i. Establishes (or maintains, if existing) a Public Advisory Committee (PAC) for the duration of the approval process (including pre-consultation) and site operation/rehabilitation (including site plan and licence condition changes/amendments)
ii. Demonstrates serious efforts to include a broad and balanced range of interested parties, representative of the community and its interests, in the PAC
iii. Ensures the PAC is involved with the development of, and agrees to, the Terms of Reference for its work, and that the PAC has input to government/agency Terms of Reference for technical studies to be completed as part of the siting application and/or operations issues
iv. Is equally inclusive and transparent in communications and information exchange with the general public and other community groups, including those who may be opposed to the proposed development
v. Involves the PAC in the development of a ‘vision’ for the life-cycle (including future uses of the site after rehabilitation has been done) of the proposed aggregate site
vi. Demonstrates that serious consideration was given to the input received from the PAC and the general public
vii. Ensures resources (including company technical reports), commensurate with the scale and intensity of the proposed aggregate site, are available to the PAC, no later than the time they are available to agencies, throughout the pre-consultation and approval process, as well as during site operation and rehabilitation (including site plan and licence condition amendments), to enable the PAC to contribute in a collaborative way throughout the lifecycle of the site.
b) The applicant ensures that resources, commensurate with the scale and intensity of the proposed aggregate site, are available to the municipal approval body, to enable it to contribute in a collaborative way throughout the pre-consultation process and the lifecycle of the site (including site plan and licence condition changes/amendments)
c) Applicant has in place a transparent process for addressing the concerns of the local community and other stakeholders
d) Applicant or one or more persons employed or engaged by the applicant, has a track record of addressing community concerns and of having made reasonable best efforts when they remain unresolved
e) The applicant has conducted a thorough investigation for the presence of historically or culturally significant archeological values on sites proposed for aggregate extraction and has developed plans to conserve those values with the input of relevant experts and affected communities
f) Operations must use reasonable best efforts to implement a “good neighbour” philosophy that respects appropriate time of operations (including hauling) such as early mornings and weekends, speed limits and noise levels on haul routes, keeping in context the industrial nature of the business and the nature of the community.