The city should permit a concrete batch plant and quarry operation near McLean Lake's Sleeping Giant Hill because it's been proven environmentally sound and has already been planned for.

That's what city council heard Monday evening from project proponent Ron Newsome, of Territorial Contracting Ltd., and his consultant, Dan Cornett, of Access Consulting.

Speaking to members of council on his plans, Newsome said he doesn't feel the project would be a problem because the area already had quarries and there would be a substantial buffer zone between his industry and local residents.

'The reason I chose this area is because it's close to the quarry and close to the market,' he said.

Territorial Contracting had to move its operations, he said, because getting its lease renewed at its current Ear Lake location has proved difficult in the past.

Attempting to calm council's and residents' concerns, Cornett said McLean Lake is a natural choice for the company because similar activities are already taking place in the area.

'We're looking to rezone an existing concrete batch plant from Ear Lake to an existing quarry area in McLean Lake (that's) smart planning,' he said.

Cornett said environmental concerns voiced by residents, including anxieties over the impact on drinking water quality, have already been considered and are not a factor in Newsome's plan.

'We're not affecting water quality in the area. We're not touching the lake,' Cornett said, pointing out that Newsome's plans call for the use of groundwater.

Concerns over the aesthetic values of the area have also been taken into consideration and the industrial activity would not be visible, he added.

'We're not mining Sleeping Giant Hill; it's behind that area. That prominent feature will not be touched and you won't see these things.'

Cornett said that both the company and the Yukon government had performed environmental studies of the area and those studies showed Newsome's plan was feasible.

'I'd like to point out that we're going through the process. We've spent a significant amount of time and money. We're just asking to have the zoning approved the way you planned it.

'It was in the existing Official Community Plan.' he said.

Cornett said he doesn't feel it would be fair for the city to change its mind at this point because Newsome had been acting in line with regulations and with due diligence.

He said he wonders why residents are not protesting existing industry, including quarries and a contaminated land facility.

Coun. Dave Stockdale said he had some concerns and questioned whether Cornett's objectivity in the environmental assessment had been compromised.

'How objective can your environmental assessment be when you conducted it on behalf of the proponent?

'Don't take this the wrong way, but if the residents had hired you, the results could have been different. You may have highlighted different concerns,' Stockdale said.

Coun. Doug Graham asked if there are sufficient resources left at Ear Lake to continue operations there if the company was able to secure another lease.

Responding to Graham's questions, Newsome said there are likely enough resources at Ear Lake to last another 10 years.