SANDRA M STANWAY
Brooks Bulletin
Work on the path to Kinbrook Island Provincial Park should be finished by the end of the month, although it had been thought it would be much earlier.
In July the county’s director of municipal services Mark Harbicht told council the last leg of the path would be completed early.
“They’re just getting started. They’ve been fencing for about a week now and getting started with pathway work next week,” he said.
“Hoping to be done this year,” he said.
The second leg of the 2.5 metre wide (8 feet) path is being fenced with barbed wire. Both sides of the path currently have barbed wire but it’s unknown if both sides will remain in place.
The path from Township Road 182 to Bantry Bay which is just under five kilometers (2.6 miles).
The Eastern Irrigation District has been installing new barbed wire fence along the future path. As well, the path to Lake Newell Resort is expected to begin in 2025.
“We have one landowner to secure. Obviously bumping that to 2025 for construction. Hopefully things work out,” he said.
Administration will review the cost of the path estimate to ensure they are working within the original local improvement that was advertised.
During the county’s municipal planning meeting, council approved an application from the Eastern Irrigation District to subdivide a 26.58 acre lot to allow for stormwater management as well as the Lake Newell Resort Path.
The EID will not have to pay the required municipal reserve until the future.
In the past the county allowed for a caveat on a municipal reserve to defer payment but the policy was updated and it states that the 10 per cent fund on the value of the acres should be requested money in place of land.
“The difference with this one is that it is a lot larger than any other subdivision that we’ve had in the past few years,” said Maria Jackson, the county’s planning and development supervisor.
“That’s maybe where this consideration could come into effect.”
By taking the money the process is done.
“However, if there is a development later, and the size of this parcel – it’s not off the table – as land value increases there’s the opportunity to collect more money in the future,” she said.
“If the land value doubles in 10 or 20 years when it’s developed it could be a benefit to the county.”
Jackson said the water for the pond will come from Lake Newell Resort and onto EID property.
The path is expected to be developed north and west of the pond.
“It’s hitting two birds with one stone. The county can retain management of the stormwater pond and that path can go through.”
