RED DEER COUNTY — Although random camping at the Garrington Bridge area was closed off following a wild bush party in late July, access to the river for jet boaters remains open.
“It’s not totally closed, but it’s totally closed for the camping part of it,” said the Innisfail RCMP detachment’s Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk said last week.
“The RCMP did not close it, but we were involved in consultation over how to manage it."
The decision to install barricades blocking off random camping access at Garrington Bridge was made by Alberta Transportation with input from other key stakeholders including the RCMP, he said.
“Alberta Transportation owns the gravel pit there. So, ultimately it’s their decision. But it was made as a result of a meeting with everybody involved — with (Red Deer) County, with Alberta (Environment and) Parks, with us and Alberta Transportation,” he said.
A spokesperson with Alberta Transportation confirmed the provincial agency responsible for highways “installed permanent signage next to the Garrington Bridge to warn that the areas next to the bridge are private property and that trespassers may be prosecuted.”
Blair Phelps, communications director, added, “Alberta Environment and Parks and the RCMP requested these signs be installed because of multiple calls to the RCMP regarding more than 500 campers behaving recklessly in the area.”
RCMP had expressed concerns regarding access to the river for the likes of jet boaters, who in the end were accommodated.
“So, it’s not totally closed. It’s only closed for, I understand, random camping and that,” said Matechuk. “But access for jet boaters and stuff like that is still not restricted.”
While installing the signs ultimately comes down to Alberta Transportation, the RCMP remains responsible for responding when called upon to physically provide enforcement as necessary, he said.
The surrounding land is a mix of Crown and private property, he said.
“There’s Crown land to the high water mark,” which involves Alberta Environment and Parks, he said.
“And then there’s a section there of crown land that’s managed by Alberta Transportation with the gravel pit, and then there is farm land on the other side of that,” he said.
Responding to concerns from some members of the public who felt they were being punished for the actions of a few, he said, “We don’t want to punish everybody. But we’re living in interesting times right now, where lots is very restricted for travel, so people are looking for places for recreation.”
Treating and caring for the environment and camping areas safely and respectfully is a collective responsibility, he said.
“It would be nice if everybody would respect the land and clean up the garbage after themselves. Everybody’s to blame – it’s not just young people. We all own it.”
