Here we go again! It's worth noting, that if the article is correct, irrigation is a "must" for any potential development of the land. This requirement would appear to preclude any conservation-minded groups or individuals from bidding on the property.
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/front-page-news/alta-eyes-land-sale-83111.htmlAlta. eyes land sale
WEDNESDAY, 31 AUGUST 2011 02:01 WOODFORD, JAMIE
Jamie Woodford
Lethbridge Herald (with CP files)
jwoodford@lethbridgeherald.com
The Alberta government is seeking requests for proposals to develop 16,000 acres of native grassland into irrigated farmland, most likely a potato farm.
The plot for sale, located southwest of Medicine Hat, is the source of last year's "potatogate" scandal when a Taber-area potato producer approached the government for a private, direct sale of the land without any public hearings or open bidding.
"It was refused simply because it's not the way that the government deals with the sale of public land," said sustainable resources minister Mel Knight.
The land is currently being use for grazing.
Knight said after the deal was killed, the government took a closer look at the land and saw a "very viable opportunity here for agricultural development in the area."
"So I went back and asked our department to develop a request for proposals to make this thing completely open and transparent, and anybody that would have an interest in the real estate can put forward a request for proposal," he said.
Knight told the Canadian Press that he expects last year's proponent, Louis Ypma of SLM Spud Farms, to try again.
Ypma's original bid blew up a windstorm of protest from environmentalists and ranchers, who use the area for grazing.
"So little of Alberta's grassland region is left," said Carolyn Campbell of the Alberta Wilderness Association. "Only 30 per cent remains and, of that, less than two per cent is protected."
Nearly three-quarters of Alberta's endangered species live in grasslands, she said. The land being offered is home to the endangered ferruginous hawk and burrowing owl.
Knight countered that the area for sale represents less than one per cent of Alberta's remaining native prairie.
"There's about 1.4 million acres of grassland in Alberta, and what we're talking about here is about 0.15 per cent of that, so it's a significant piece of real estate, but with respect to the amount of grassland we have, it's a relatively small amount," he said, adding that the sale won't be cut and dry.
A buyer would have to abide by federal and provincial regulations for endangered species.
"If we sell this - and it is an 'if' . . this request for proposal is going to have to meet a number of requirements," he said.
"Anybody that is successful with the RFP must meet all the requirements in the species at risk regulation and legislation around it . . . and they also would be required to address any impact to wildlife and biodiversity in the area.
"It's not just a drop kick here, there's some significant hurdles (for) individuals interested in the real estate."
Irrigation is a must for any potential project suggested for the land, Knight noted.
"There's an opportunity here for a valued added agricultural project, but only if you irrigate, so the request for proposal is specific about that. We won't sell the land unless there's an opportunity for it to be irrigated," he said noting the soil on the plot is Class 2, which "has good drainage features to it."
The money from the sale would be placed in the Enhanced Land Stewardship Fund, which is used to purchase and protect lands with high conservation value.
"Also, it can be leveraged to provide opportunity for conservation easements on private land and leased land," Knight added."We think we can get at least 2:1, if not a lot higher, acreage put aside of conservation by using the proceeds from this real estate."
The Alberta government transfers an average of 10,000 acres of public land for agricultural use every year.
"This year alone we're going to move something in excess of 40,000 acres of public land into opportunities in agricultural use in northwestern Alberta as well," said Knight.
