VEGREVILLE, Alta. – Dividing the responsibility for approving intensive livestock operations between the province and municipalities may help local governments make tough decisions about such developments.
“It’s a good saw-off,” said Gilbert Soetaert, deputy reeve of the County of Sturgeon, north of Edmonton.
“The provincial government taking responsibility for the technical aspect, it’s long overdue,” said Soetaert at an information meeting.
Under proposed regulations, farmers who want to build a new hog barn or expand a cattle feedlot need approval from both the province and the municipality.
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All technical requirements on lagoon size, soil suitability and barn size would be regulated and approved or rejected by the provincial government.
Local bylaws apply
The local municipality would approve or deny the building based on its local land use bylaws.
“I think this a pretty good document,” said Soetaert. “It takes the pressure off the local level compared with what’s existing.”
More than half the people at the Vegreville meeting were members of local municipalities who wondered how the proposed regulations would affect them.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Vic Pasay, councilor with the County of Sturgeon. That county is squeezed by concerns from city people moving to acreages and by existing farmers wanting to expand their business.
Until now, local municipalities rejected or approved development often without the expertise to know if the sewage lagoon was large enough or the soil suitable for the type of operation.
Having the provincial government deal with regulations ensures standards are the same across Alberta. A municipality can’t soften the regulations or make them tougher under pressure from local citizens.
If approval is rejected at either level, the development cannot go ahead. The farmer has the option of presenting his case to an appeal board.
Bill Sears, councilor with the County of Beaver in Tofield, said the new regulations will make it easier in emotionally charged debates surrounding intensive livestock development.
“We certainly take the brunt of it.”
Aaron Falkenberg, co-chair of the advisory group, said the document still gives the municipality power to reject a development if council thinks it’s not suitable for the area.
