Bowden town councillors are welcoming a proposed new grain terminal to be constructed near the town.
They say it'll be good for local businesses and give farmers a place to haul their grain to as they look for the best price they can get.
Construction of the new inland export grain terminal, announced March 1 by Paterson Grain of Winnipeg, is expected to begin this spring.
It will be located at the intersection of highways 2A and 587 and accessed off Highway 587 and Rge. Rd. 12.
“I think it's pretty cool,” Coun. Wayne Milaney said during the town's March 14 council meeting. “It means some employment, more business for our businesses.
“It's a pretty good way to diversify our economy; ship more grain.”
“I don't see how it can hurt. I think it will be (great),” Mayor Robb Stuart said.
“It's certainly good for the farmers,” Coun. Sheila Church said. “Farmers this year on September contracts, their grain wasn't being taken until February or March. They really need these terminals.”
“They're going to put a massively big track in there – if it's approved by the (Red Deer) county,” Stuart said.
Stuart said it's his understanding that plans call for those utilizing the new elevator to exit Highway 587, going north on Rge. Rd. 12.
He added it's anticipated that Alberta Transportation officials will have no problem with the development as long as it's not too close to the highway.
Stuart noted the project utilizes a spur line that used to run to a sulphur plant.
“I thought they pulled the rails out of there, but they didn't,” he said.
Coun. Church agreed.
Coun. Milaney indicated that ironically, if the company had come to town earlier, it might not have had to construct a whole new facility from the ground up.
“We had five elevators we could have given them, but they knocked them all down,” he said with a laugh.
"It's a pretty good way to diversify our economy; ship more grain."WAYNE MILANEYBOWDEN COUNCILLOR
