Forty-four attendees from various industries, environmental groups and communities shared their vision for the developing North Saskatchewan Regional Plan in Rocky Mountain House on Tuesday.
Hosted by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, the workshop was one of 21 planned in the first round of public consultation about the draft terms of reference for the long-term plan.
The regional plan sets out the approach for managing the lands and natural resources to reach the province’s long-term environmental, economic and social goals. In Rocky, attendees shared points about the vision and outcomes, wildlife and biodiversity, land, water, air, culture and recreation, economy, agriculture and tourism, energy and the environment.
Some commented that the vision was too broad while others thought the broad statements are good at this point in the planning process.
The North Saskatchewan Region is bordered by Saskatchewan to the east, British Columbia to the west, the Upper Athabasca and the Lower Athabasca regions to the north and the South Saskatchewan and Red Deer regions to the south.
Other meetings in Central Alberta include Caroline, June 4 at the Dovercourt Community Centre at the intersection of Hwy 22 and Township Road 372, and Red Deer, June 25 at the Sheraton Hotel.
Each day there will be two workshop sessions: one goes from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and one from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. No RSVP is required.
The first phase of consultations will wrap up on June 26 in Edmonton. The plan will be developed in three phases involving public consultation, advisory councils and cabinet approvals.
More information is available at https://landuse.alberta.ca/RegionalPlans/NorthSaskatchewanRegion/Pages/default.aspx