Some residents of a central Alberta community hope concerns over noise and dust are enough to prompt builders of a proposed grain elevator to relocate the project.
The GrainsConnect terminal, which will have a storage capacity of 35,000 tonnes, is slated to be built just outside Huxley, Alta. It is expected to feature a rail loop that’s capable of holding 134 cars, and Canadian National Railway would service it.
Some residents say the development, particularly the rail loop, is too close to their properties and will cause disturbances. Development documents show there are three homes within one kilometre of the terminal. The rest of the hamlet is within 1.5 km.
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“It’s going to be a noise issue, and it’s so close to our home, the train will be shining their lights right at us,” said David Swanson, who lives within one km of the site. “I’m also pretty allergic to the stuff. I farmed for 25 years and then gave it up. By the time harvest was over, I basically had no skin left.
“We’re not against them building an elevator, it’s just that this elevator is too close to town. If they moved it away by two miles (3.2 km) that would be better.”
The development requires approval from Kneehill County council before it can go ahead.
The development application is scheduled to be heard by councillors at a Feb. 22 meeting.
GrainsConnect has previously said it’s building the elevator due to strong interest from farmers in the area and declined further comment.
“Until we have received formal written responses regarding our application, GrainsConnect will not speculate on any objections that might be made about our proposed development,” Stacey Radley, the project manager for the site, said in an email.
Kneehill County Reeve Jerry Wittstock has also refrained from commenting further until the development comes before councillors at the meeting.
“There is a process that we are required to follow and we must protect that process to ensure a fair hearing is held,” Wittstock wrote in an email. “In that process there is an opportunity for the public to oppose or support the application and those comments form part of the application package.”
Huxley resident Sharon Wesgate is hoping council listens and acts on their concerns.
“The terminal shouldn’t be close to the residential area,” Wesgate said. “There are a lot of seniors who live here, and there’s just no benefit to the community. What are we going to get out of it?”
If approved, construction of the elevator is expected to begin this summer and be complete by 2019.
