Land use plan for southern Alberta lacks detail, say critics
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald
CALGARY — Recommendations given to the province that will ultimately shape the landscape in southern Alberta are being panned by environmentalists, landowners and recreational groups as too vague.
On Tuesday, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development held public consultations to get public input on a regional advisory council’s advice for the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan.
The plan, which spans 83,764 square kilometres in southern Alberta, explores the relationship between population growth, water supply, economic growth and land conservation.
More than 175 people — from regular Calgarians and recreational groups to environmental groups and oil companies — attended either a private stakeholder session during the day or a public open house in the evening.
“It’s a lot of different viewpoints,” said Trevor Gemmell, spokesman for Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.
In the South Saskatchewan region, the plan will affect 45 per cent of the province’s population and includes the cities of Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge, where population growth has had an impact on the landscape.
Recommendations by a regional advisory council that provided advice to the Alberta government include taking measures to sustain water quality and quantity, respecting private land ownership and developing conservation tools. It will ultimately determine where development can take place and where parks should be designated to protect watersheds or provide recreational activities for Albertans.
Most oil companies and environmental groups attended the closed-door stakeholder sessions.
“There was definitely some consensus that it’s too vague,” said Sarah Elmeligi, a senior conservation planner with the southern Alberta chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Association.
During the session, she said there was some recognition that a healthy economy is dependent on a healthy environment.
Those who attended the public open house were also concerned the recommendations don’t address some key issues.
“We’re spitting mad,” said Peter Straub of the Rocky Mountain Land Cruiser Association, which uses the trail system in southern Alberta for off-roading. “It’s a recipe for closure of our activities.”
The plan, he said, doesn’t allow for sustainable use of the trail systems.Some said they just want to make sure access is continued in some of the recreational areas.
“We’re very interested in making sure we maintain access into the Ghost-Waiparous region,” said Trevor Jones of the Calgary Mountain Club, which represents climbers. “It’s a strong section of rock. It’s a world resource. People travel from all over the world to use it.
“The Ghost is our wilderness. We want to maintain it as an adventure playground.”
Kevin Stanton, a rancher who runs Brewster Mountain Pack Trains, added that there needs to be stronger protection and enforcement in the Foothills.
Others, however, were concerned the open house was just for show.
“It’s another display,” said Shaun Peter, president of Bragg Creek & Kananaskis Outdoor Recreation. “In reality, there will be little public input in the plan.”
Provincial officials said all information gathered during the consultations will be considered when the province comes up with a draft plan, which is scheduled to be ready by next spring for further public input.
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