A fledgling organization whose aim is to represent the concerns of rural residents living immediately west of Sundre recently asked town council to assign a representative or to at least publicly acknowledge the group's objectives.
The South McDougal Flats Area Protection Society's president and co-founder Robin Tudor addressed council with an update on the group's activities to date as well as to present the request for support and direction.
“The society became official just prior to the September long weekend,” he said during the Oct. 3 meeting.
“Our objectives in putting the society together are to promote an environmentally safe quality of life in the area, (and to) become a voice for our membership.”
Additionally, the group wants to develop relationships with all jurisdictions of government — from the municipal level all the way up to federal — as well as other agencies, and to influence regulations and legislation to promote the area's concerns, he said, adding the society represents more than 50 households in the area of South McDougal Flats.
“Our goals here right now are to present ourselves, present our concerns and then request direction.”
The society's leadership has also endeavoured to learn more about the issues faced by its membership by distributing surveys, he said.
“If we're going to be the voice of the community, we want to know what we're supposed to say.”
The main issues identified through the society's efforts to date are regarding air as well as water quality, traffic, safety, roads, quality of life and property values, and concerns about industry inspections as well as compliance to regulations, he said.
The organization's research has also outlined the amount of industrial activity in its area.
“Gravel extraction creates a lot of gravel dust. There are five active pits between Sundre and the Coal Camp Road. There are sawmills, which create sawdust, smoke, gravel dust. There's chemical and hydrocarbon storages out here, and transfers which create vapours. And then of course there's us humans out there with our wood stoves and vehicles.”
The buildup of smoke and dust is generally more noticeable west of Sundre, but in town tends not to be as obvious. Following discussions with the Parkland Airshed Management Zone, he said that organization has agreed — based on the information it was presented — to run some air quality tests in the South McDougal Flats area.
After summarizing other research done by the society regarding the concerns raised by its membership, Tudor proceeded to inquire whether council might be willing to consider appointing a representative “or at least publicly acknowledge our objectives.”
The society also feels the existing area structure plan should be reviewed and updated taking into consideration the concerns outlined, he said.
“These things would be beneficial in revisiting the area structure plan.”
From there, any direction town officials might have to offer the society would be appreciated, he said.
Mayor Terry Leslie expressed his gratitude for the details Tudor brought forward, and said council would accept his presentation and later share the information with staff to discuss possible courses of action moving forward.
“At this point we can't give you a direct answer. But we'll certainly consider what it is that can be accomplished by working together.”
Coun. Myron Thompson said he appreciated being invited to the society's first meeting.
“I believe I said at that meeting that the town should be — and needs to be — interested in what's taking place in our surrounding areas, as it does impact the town in some fashion or another.”
The mayor agreed, echoing the sentiment that everyone shares air and water quality concerns.
“We will consider what action we can take.”
