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Conditions at
Red Deer Regional Airport |
Springbrook Alberta, Red Deer Regional Airport, Waskasoo Watershed, Gasoline Alley |
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Place your ad on this page or any page on this site for as little as $3.50 per month phone 403-886-2640 or email: paul@springbrookwaskasoo.com Rates * * * Archived News June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 August 10 Storm July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 |
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A
special meeting, initiated by Springbrook residents and managed by Red
Deer County, attracted 75 Springbrook residents last night to the
Springbrook Community Centre to discuss a variety of drainage issues and
basement flooding experienced after the heavy rainfalls of July 12 and
13 when over 100 mm of rain fell over the two-day period. Many residents
believe that the drainage problems were a direct result of the
infrastructure rehabilitation program completed last year to replace
55-year-old pipes that had deteriorated. One of the county's objectives
of the upgrades to the sanitary and stormwater systems was to eliminate,
or least reduce, direct connection or infiltration of storm water into
the sanitary sewer system. The county had estimated a few years ago that
5 to 6 times the water being used in Springbrook was getting into the
sanitary sewer system resulting in very high costs in transporting that
water to the Red Deer water treatment plant via the Waskasoo Regional
sewer line. With the upgrades, the result has been more storm water run
off not being drained off properties to the degree residents expect.
Representatives from Epcor, Tagish Engineering and county operations as
well as county manager Curtis Herzberg and concillor Penny Archibald
were on hand to talk with individuals about their concerns. 
Display
boards were set up to help explain some of the challenges of storm
water, handouts were available and everyone was encouraged to fill out
comment forms which will be evaluated over the next several days. There
was also information available about the province's disaster relief
funding program for uninsurable damages. Only about a half dozen
applications from the community were received. About six or seven issues
were identified as causes for the drainage problems, some of which the
county plans to investigate. Some issues are considered the
responsibility of property owners, some the responsibility of the county
and special issues were identified in the Malibu area possibly due to
the stormwater retention pond (constructed wetland) being much higher
this year than anticipated. 
Work
is expected to get underway soon on a wetland viewing area in the
Springbrook nature park south of Tamarac Boulevard where a gravel trail
system was developed last year by Red Deer County. In addition, work
might commence this fall on a 3 km section between the park and Penhold
along Range Road 281. Paving of the Springbrook-Penhold Trail is likely
next year. Residents of both communities have been pushing for a trail
linking the two communities for over 10 years. The county identified the
link as a high priority in the Open Spaces Master Plan. However, a trail
linking Springbrook with Red Deer could be years away. Residents are
concerned that people, especially children and teens, are using the
Highway 2A shoulder to walk or bike between the three communities and
that eventually someone is going to get seriously hurt or killed.
Recently a 17-year-old from Penhold who is believed to have been walking
on the shoulder was killed just south of Red Deer. The number of people
using the shoulder to walk and bike has apparently decreased since
transit service was introduced between Springbrook and Red Deer last
year. Penhold is studying whether to link up to that transit service.
Meanwhile, a trail is currently under construction along Airport Drive
linking the natural park with a trail to be built along the berm east of
the Malibu development.
Red
Deer County council gave second and third reading to changes proposed by
the planning department for the Direct Control District #4 which
includes all of the newer areas of Springbrook ('old' Springbrook, the
original Mynarski Park residential area, is not included), the Red Deer
Regional Airport lands, future development areas, and the Woosh
recreation area east of the CPR tracks. Seven people from Springbrook
attended the public hearing yesterday and some expressed concern about
the restrictions concerning the location of community facilities, as
well as the fact that residents in 'old' Springbrook, about 95% of the
total population of the hamlet, were not informed of the changes or
public hearing. However, the changes were adopted without delay or
modification. The Springbrook Community Association indicated that it is
exploring locations for a new multi-use community centre and wanted to
maintain options there were removed in the proposed changes. However, it
was determined later that if a suitable site for the facility was
determined, the land use could be changed. There were also concerns
expressed about how the Malibu Communities subdivision was developed and
that some land uses in that area have changed from single family to
multiple family zones that some residents were unaware of.
Red
Deer County has adopted the Red Deer River Valley and Tributaries Park
Concept Plan that was created jointly by the county and the city of Red
Deer that provides guidelines for future development along the river,
Waskasoo Creek, Piper Creek and other natural areas. Among 21
recommendations, it provides for the expansion of Waskasoo Park into
city growth areas, as well as the development of future trails and
buffer zones along waterways and natural areas. The plan compliments the
county's Open Spaces Master Plan, adopted last year. It is anticipated
that during the next 25 years, over 7,000 acres of park land and over
350 km of trails will be created. The plan also suggests that the
abandoned Alberta Central (CPR) rail lines be eventually converted to
part of a regional trail system, possibly extending to Sylvan Lake and
beyond. Other trails would link Springbrook with Gasoline Alley, the Red
Deer River, Waskasoo Creek, Fort Normandeau and the city.
The
new 4-storey, 110-unit Hampton Inn and Suites hotel, under construction
on the west side of Highway 2 in Gasoline Alley south of the city at the
corner of Leva Avenue and Lake Street, is expected to open by
mid-August. Part of the Hilton Hotel chain, it features a swimming pool,
fitness area and laundry facilities and will offer guests a
complimentary warm breakfast. Meanwhile, a 111-unit Holiday Inn hotel
and conference centre has started construction on the east side of the
highway.
