This proposal is for an…

This proposal is for an amendment to Permit to Take Water No. 3210-AKRL9C for aggregate washing purposes. Strada Aggregates’ proposal is for a maximum volume per day of 5 million litres of water to be taken for aggravate washing, doubling their current permit allowance. This is to begin on January 1, 2026, and continue for 10 years. Strada has also applied for a permit to expand the same site and allow for excavation below the water table. Taken together it appears that Strata is trying to get the increased amount of water they’re allowed to take ahead of the permit to mine below the water table. This amendment appears to have been slipped in hoping that no one would notice it. The lack of openness on Strada’s part is concerning.
If for no other reason this proposal should be turned down because it is a category 3 permit. Your own government categorizes category three permits as water takings that are anticipated to have the highest potential of causing unacceptable environmental impactor interference. There is evidence to suggest that our water levels are already lowered. This past summer showed significant periods of drought. Increasing the amount of water taken for aggregate washing means there would be less water for our wells, for our agriculture, for the fish in our rivers and creeks.
With such a concern, how could you possibly give Strada this permit? If you do, what mitigating measures would you put in place to protect us, the people who live and work in this area and who will rely on the water from this aquifer?