land west of Hinton - press release

Here's a chance to get your say into what happens in your neck of the woods!



Managing growth pressures

March 13, 2007

Input invited on potential recreation development

Public meetings held in March

Edmonton... The provincial government is inviting Albertans to provide their input into planning for future commercial and recreational development in three areas of public land west of Hinton.

The initiative is part of an existing land-use plan in the West Yellowhead Corridor. The process will ensure that any future commercial recreation and tourism development that is approved would be orderly, environmentally sustainable and integrated appropriately with other activities.

The project identifies the following areas that may be suitable for potential commercial recreation and tourism development:

Overlander: located about 15 km west of Hinton on Highway 16, near the Jasper National Park gate
Entrance: located at the high point of land about 4 km west of Hinton, and about 1.5 km north of Highway 16, near Highway 40 and adjacent to the Aspen Heights subdivision
Brule: located about 20-to-25 km west of Hinton, along the north shore of the Athabasca River
The three areas are within the much larger West Yellowhead Corridor, situated along Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) and Highway 40 (Bighorn Highway). The corridor extends from the Jasper National Park gates in the west to near Obed Lake, 50 km west of Edson.

Public consultations on the planning project will take place in March. Open Houses are scheduled on March 26 at the Brule Community Centre and on March 27 at the Hinton Training Centre. Participants are invited to provide input into the location, level and type of development for these three additional locations.

This planning project and consultation are part of Premier Ed Stelmach's plan to manage growth pressures. Other priorities are for the government to govern with integrity and transparency, improve Albertans' quality of life, build a stronger Alberta and promote safe and secure communities.

For a copy of the draft plan and background information, visit srd.gov.ab.ca/land/yellowhead.

- 30 -

Media enquiries may be directed to:

Gerry Boudrias
Communications
Sustainable Resource Development
780-427-8636
gerry.boudrias@gov.ab.ca