Sundre’s fire chief wants to see the community get a boat launch.
Marty Butts said the launch would improve safety and provide an economic development boost to the area.
“Every town you go through that has a major river has a boat launch,” said Butts on Wednesday.
Having a proper access to the river would help emergency responders if someone got into trouble on the river, which is becoming an increasingly popular destination for rafters, canoeists, jet boaters and other users.
“We just don’t have a real nice place for people to get in or get out and launch their crafts,” he said. “It’s a safety issue.”
Emergency crews now use access points on Crown or private land, but it is not ideal.
“It’s a very sketchy situation right now,” he said. “Nothing’s for sure because the river changes all the time.
“Even the water level comes up and it changes hugely.” A launch point that worked one month won’t be usable the next, he said.
Building a proper launch would also give recreational river users a safe place to put their boats in. A campground or day-use may also be developed at the site as part of the project.
Butts said there is enthusiasm for the project from both the town and neighbouring county. Provincial funding would be sought to help bankroll the project.
“It sounds like everybody is on board with it, the Town of Sundre and the county of Mountain View” he said.
“We just have to sit down and hash out a few issues and push it on and get the final approvals from the government.”
A cost for the project has not yet been determined.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com