Consultations planned for South Saskatchewan plan

Work on a land-use plan for southern Alberta will focus on water, economic development and conservation needs.
A new round of consultations in the South Saskatchewan region starts Nov. 6 at Cardston and District Seniors Centre.
Consultations will also be held Nov. 8 at Vulcan Legion Hall, Nov. 20 at Pincher Creek Heritage Inn, Nov. 27 at Claresholm Community Centre, Dec. 4 at Crowsnest Pass Elks Hall and Dec. 6 at the Coast Hotel in Lethbridge.
The public, stakeholders and municipalities can offer input on recommendations made by an advisory council for development of the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan — the second of seven regional plans that will be developed based on the province’s major watersheds.
The Alberta government approved the Lower Athabasca regional plan, for Alberta’s oil sands region, in August.
The 19-member South Saskatchewan Regional Advisory Council met 13 times across the region, between 2009 and 2011, participated in public information, stakeholder and municipality sessions and received more than 100 stakeholder submissions.
The South Saskatchewan region comprises about 12 per cent of Alberta’s land base or about 83,774 square kilometres. About 45 per cent of Albertans live in the region which includes Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Airdrie.
Albertans can also provide their input for the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan through an online workbook, available until Dec. 21 at www.landuse.alberta.ca.