The MD of Willow Creek Municipal Planning Commission will voice the concerns of its ratepayers to the Natural Resources Conservation Board about a proposed confined feeding operation east of Stavely.
At its June 12 meeting, the MPC read correspondence from the Natural Resources Conservation Board indicating an application at 31-14-26-4 by the Hutterian Brethren of Ivy Ridge has been deemed complete.
The application is to construct a chicken layer and pullet barn 111.56 metres by 30.48 metres; a dairy barn 111.56 metres by 36.58 metres by 3.7 metres deep; a calf shed and dry cow barn 111.56 metres by 45.72 metres; a broiler barn 111.56 metres by 36.58 metres; and a mixed poultry barn 76.2 metres by 18.29 metres for 150 dairy cows plus associated dries and replacements, 18,000 chicken layers, 34,000 chicken pullets and broilers, 1,000 ducks, and 100 geese.
Coun. Glen Alm said the application did not seem like it proposed a lot of water for a colony and livestock.
Coun. Brian Nelson pointed out the well listed in the application is actually on the well of a neighbour’s land, and not on the applicant’s land.
The well owner was present and said he was not approached by the applicant to use the well.
Planning and development manager Cindy Chisholm said the applicant made changes to the initial application, relocating manure storage from the southeast to northeast corner of the development.
The notice of application has to be recirculated to give adjacent land owners an opportunity to comment.
Chelsey Hurt, an adjacent land owner, was present and shared her concerns over the proposed development.
Hurt said in her research she learned approval officers of the NRCB are instructed not to consider the cumulative effects on the community.
Hurt said they also don’t consider the impact on land values either.
Hurt was concerned about traffic where the road does not have access or deceleration lanes, no shoulders, and is a school bus route.
There will be an impact on MD of Willow Creek services such as the fire departments.
Hurt also knows endangered species are on the land such as ferruginous hawks as well as wetland habitat.
Water is one of the major concerns. The applicant proposes to pipe water six kilometres, going under the highway, from Mosquito Creek.
The licence allows pumping from April to October. Hurt noted Mosquito Creek often dries up in July. Hurt also pointed out the water licence has to be amended, because it is currently for irrigation.
Hurt said the applicant plans on drilling wells and filling a reservoir, but this will affect existing neighbours’ well because the water flows are already low. She added Mosquito Creek is also the water source for Nanton and Parkland.
Hurt advised council two community meetings have been held in the past week.
“There’s strong opposition to this,” Hurt said, adding she anticipates 200 letters going to the NRCB and Livingstone-Macleod MLA Chelsae Petrovic.
Hurt concluded by noting a large-scale, intensive development located in a pristine agricultural area occupied by fifth-generation family farms just doesn’t fit.
Hurt later requested assessment of the impact on traffic, water and services.
Alm said the MD of Willow Creek makes comments on all applications forwarded from the NRCB.
“Our record is not too good,” Alm said. “We don’t get heard very well.”
Hurt responded the challenge is they have 20 days to respond to the application when the NRCB does not consider the impact on their quality of life.
“Nobody is hearing our interests,” Hurt said.
Reeve Maryanne Sandberg responded the MD of Willow Creek can listen to ratepayers’ concerns.
“We can relay those on your behalf,” Sandberg said.
However, Sandberg cautioned, the MD of Willow Creek does not make the decisions.
Sandberg explained the NRCB, Alberta Utilities Commission, and Alberta Energy Regulator all have jurisdiction over municipalities, but the MD of Willow Creek has advocated without success to have this changed.
Terry Olsen is another adjacent land owner who has lived in that area his whole life.
Olsen noted they have had terribly dry spells and drought. There have been times Mosquito Creek doesn’t have flow.
Olsen said the neighbours’ wells will be affected.
Olsen also said the NRCB has to be overhauled, because one person should not have power of approval.
“I think that’s kind of ridiculous,” Olsen said.
“We’re going to be really impacted,” Olsen concluded. “We need the water and there won’t be enough of it.”
Mike Dawber is another adjacent land owner.
“This is going to have a huge impact on our way of life,” Dawber said, adding they were just looking for some help to raise their concerns. “We just need some hope. This looks like a done deal to us.”
“We understand your concerns,” Alm said, adding the MD of Willow Creek always comments on applications sent for comment. “Water jumps out at us always.”
Alm added applicants choose to get approval for their confined feeding operation first, then seek out water.
Alm said the MD of Willow Creek is trying to have that changed.
Coun. Brian Nelson concurred, noting the provincial government made it so applicants can get approved without a confirmed water source.
Sandberg urged everyone to hit the government by writing letters.
“They should be looking at this very seriously,” Sandberg said.
After a closed session where the commission considered all applications, the MPC reverted to open session and agreed to write a letter expressing concerns over the impact of the proposed confined feeding operation on water and infrastructure.
