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Gull Lake man charged with altering shoreline has trial dates set

The trial for a Gull Lake man charged with altering the shoreline without permission has been bumped up to five days and delayed until June.

The trial for a Gull Lake man charged with altering the shoreline without permission has been bumped up to five days and delayed until June.

Dale Andrew Mather, 61, was to stand trial on March 7. Three days were set aside for his trial on two charges of removing vegetation at the lake without proper authorization, under Alberta’s Water Act.

The trial will now run June 11 to 15 in Red Deer provincial court. No explanation was given in court for the change.

Alberta Environment launched an investigation in September 2009 after receiving a public complaint that the shoreline was being altered near the property of the accused. The province announced last April that the charges had been laid. The charges carry a combined maximum penalty of $150,000 and up to two years in jail.

Under the Water Act, any activity that may impact a water body requires appropriate approvals. It is alleged that vegetation was removed from the bed and shore of the lake.

Mather was not in court on Thursday.

The accused is not to be confused with Dale Peter Mather, the former chief administrative officer of the Town of Innisfail.