b'NEIGHBOUR RELATIONSaggregate versus trucking it in from a distance. They sort of say, Yeah, I get it. We dont need higher costs of anything these days and we all need to do a better job with taking care of the environment.McCarthy is adamant that any aggregate firm going into a new community should make setting up a public engagement committee their first priority. Thats really going to give you traction because you make yourself transparent and it gives you a conduit to the community, she says. People who are concerned can talk to that committee, and I think it really makes a difference. Ourneighboursunderstandtheimportanceof quarriesforbuildinghousing,schools,hospitalsand Walker Aggregates team members helping out at aroads, adds Breen. They also understand that having Habitat for Humanity build in Niagara aquarryintheirneighbourhoodmeansthatthey aremakinganextracontribution,thattheyrereally McCarthy emphasizes that an open-door policy at its quarries issteppingupwiththeirneighbourhoodtohelpbuild key and constant. Anytime someone wants to come in this doorour communities. Its critical for us then to be in touch with them and have a tour of the quarry to see what were doing, well haveproactively all the time, to keep the lines of communication open the operations manager and a site superintendent pop them intoand support initiatives that are important to them.the truck, drive them around, and just show them whats going on here, she says. DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONWalker has a similar policy, and also hosts community gatheringsRegarding the day-to-day operation of the quarry itself, and any onsite.Welldoasummerbarbecueandaholidaygatheringinconvenience it may cause neighbours, dust mitigation tends to each year, explains Breen. These are opportunities for people tobe a priority. Miller recently purchased a piece of equipment that just show up at the quarry. The summer one in particular is quiteatomizes mist to capture and drop dust. It also employs a full-time popular because were at full operation and people can actually seeemployee whose only job is to drive a water truck around the quarry quarry activities. The kids like to come and touch the truck andand up and down the road outside the gate to suppress dust. Miller all that kind of stuff, and then well do a barbecue lunch. Its aalso spreads a layer of calcium chloride a couple of times a year for good opportunity for people to be able to ask any questions verythe same reason.informally, and to give any feedback that they want. Many if not all facilities have extensive traffic studies attached to Breen says those events are supplemented by regular newslettersthem as part of the licensing process, because this too can have an and other targeted communication, both through direct mail andimpact on nearby residents. Those [studies] make sure that we pick occasional advertising in local media when theres anything newthe best route to support the heavy trucks that are coming in and happening at the quarry. out of a quarry, says Breen. That includes traffic rules and a lot of The robust communication can also help to illustrate how localsignage to remind the drivers what those rules are. We have a 25-km-aggregateoperationscanbenefitthecommunity.Sometimesper-hour limit inside our quarries to keep things safe and to keep people forget or underestimate the importance of having a localdust down. We also employ retired police to help us enforce and aggregate source close to construction sites, notes Breen, addingmonitor safety to make sure that the roads leading in and out of the that a local quarry can point out the advantages of close-to-marketquarry are safe for everybody in the community.The same berms that improve the view for quarry neighbours also CRUSHING, WASHING, help with noise, directing it upward instead of outward. Walker also SCREENING, puts rubber linings in its equipment to soften the noise when rock RENTALS gets dropped into big containers on the back of trucks. It covers a lot of its stationary equipment and installs insulation inside to dampen the sound.Another thing that we do, says Breen, is when we have to blast, we only do that at midday, so no ones in bed asleep, or at night when theyre home trying to have their dinner. We do it at midday because 1118 Brodie Drive, Severn, OntarioL3V 0V2 that seems to be the best time for folks and has the least impact on| Fax: 705-326-0305 their day. Some people also like to get a phone call or a text before jstewart@jgstewart.ca |www.jgstewart.ca a blast just to remind them its going to happen, which well do. Walker also foregoes blasting on windy days to control dust.26 AVENUESWINTER 2024'