Achi news desk-
The Alberta Environmental Appeals Board has dismissed a challenge by a group of concerned citizens regarding the construction of a motorsports park near the community of Rosebud.
The group has been fighting the approval of the 2020 Water Act by Alberta Environment and Protected Places.
A recent ruling by the Alberta Environmental Appeal Board allows for the development of the Badlands Motorsports Resort.
The panel decided that there was insufficient evidence that the racing complex would harm birds such as bank swallows, eagles and falcons.
Building the racetrack would fill two wetlands and modify three others.
“The director acknowledged that Badlands Activities would have some limited impact on wildlife, as would any activity on previously undeveloped agricultural lands. However, the director presented the Badlands Activities, including the removal of two wetlands from the area, which would not have any significant impact on wildlife, including the shore shuttle, and the little brown myotis,” the judgment states.
The EAB ruling came with a condition that the holder of the approval must submit a proposal for a wetlands monitoring program requiring them to submit a plan annually to determine the ecological health of the wetlands.
“This decision by the Province of Alberta is completely unacceptable. How does a large-scale high-speed racetrack get approved as critical habitat for an endangered species that dies from motor vehicle collisions?” said Rick Skibsted, a nearby landowner, farmer and winner of the 2018 J. Laslo Legacy Award for conservation.
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Skibsted noted that “collision with vehicles” is one of the reasons why the shore shuttle population is decreasing.
Wendy Clark is another farmer leading the effort to stop the development.
Clark said that she, like other farmers in the area, felt it was their job to take care of this river valley.
She said she was worried about the impact on the land, water and wildlife.
“Because of the drought, there is even more pressure on the valley. Every inch of habitat down there is necessary for wildlife to survive,” Clark said.
The Badlands Motorsports Resort Fire Chief says the primary race track is well above the Rosebud River and another potential track would plunge into the valley.
“Wildlife should not be affected by the racetrack,” James Zelazo said on Friday “We are abiding by all the regulations and if there was some danger, we would either stop the construction if so, but not there is evidence of that,”
The company hopes to begin construction this fall but Zelazo said its progress depends on financing.
Zelazo said he is confident the province will provide $11 million to cover 75 percent of the cost of paving and widening a 10-km access road from Highway 9.
Global News contacted Alberta Transportation for confirmation but did not receive a response regarding the funding situation.
The final project includes a plan to build a $500 million motorsports park and residential complex near the Rosebud River, 100 km east of Calgary.
In a statement to Global News, the Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) said it “opposes the province’s latest move to prioritize development over the health of critical ecological spaces.”
“We cannot afford to lose more prairie habitat,” said Ruiping Luo, a conservation specialist with the AWA. “Especially not in areas that have been confirmed to be essential habitat for endangered species, such as the shore shuttle.”
“It’s basically going to fragment and destroy some of the wetlands,” Skibsted said.
Skibsted noted that the drought had a major impact on the land around Rosebud.
“Everything out here is dry, dry, dry. We haven’t had runoff for years. Very few of our ponds and sloughs have water. The development essentially destroys a unique set of wetlands on the site. It is a pavement over a huge area. It’s a very bad idea,”
Skibsted noted that the area was popular with bird watchers and people using canoes or kayaks to paddle down the river.
“If you ever float down the Rosebud River, it’s so peaceful and calm. It’s almost surreal,” says Skibsted
Clark said residents are not done fighting the project.
“We are optimistic. We are by no means at the end. We have a lot of options in front of us,” Clark said.
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