Province to get public input on water, development and conservation in southern Alberta

A series of provincial consultations on the province’s proposed land-use strategy focusing on water, economic development and conservation needs will cover the Castle wilderness area, where logging has been hotly debated.

Photograph by: Calgary Herald/Files , Calgary Herald

Province to get public input on water, development and conservation in southern Alberta

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald October 26, 2012

A land-use strategy focusing on water, economic development and conservation needs in southern Alberta will get a full public airing during a series of consultation sessions this fall.

The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan, which includes an area spanning 83,774 square kilometres from just north of Calgary to the United States border, is the second in a series of land-use plans in the works by the Alberta government.

They are based on the province’s major watersheds.

In the South Saskatchewan region, it includes Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Airdrie. It also contains the Castle wilderness area, where a logging plan was recently put on hold by the province until the completion of the plan for the area.

Residents interested in commenting on the strategy will be able to attend any of the public sessions being held across Alberta.

From Nov. 6 until Dec. 6, the sessions will be held across the province — including in Cardston and Red Deer on Nov. 6; Calgary on Nov. 13; Airdrie and Pincher Creek on Nov. 20; and Canmore on Nov. 21.

For more details on sessions in your area, go to www.landuse.alberta.ca.

LINK (via: Calgary Herald)