Halt plan to pipe Red Deer water to Calgary, Liberals say

Alberta's Liberal leader is calling on the premier tostop a plan to pipe water from the Red Deer River to a large mall and horse racing track being builton the edge of Calgary, more than 100 kilometres away.

Liberal Leader Kevin Taft said the proposal for the Balzac projectisn't in the public interest and could set a precedent for water to be moved between other rivers in the future.

"It shouldn't be put on the people of the Red Deer River watershed to solve a political problem between the City of Calgary and the Municipal District of Rockyview," said Taft.

More than 100 people have written the province to oppose the plan, said Taft. He's calling on Premier Ed Stelmach to prevent Alberta Environment from issuing the water licence.

Taft argues there is still plenty of room in the city's water licence to support the project.

Province considering licence

Sherri-Dawn Annett, a spokeswoman for Alberta Environment, said the application is currently being reviewed and a decision is expected soon.

"If members of the public don't agree with the licence decision, they can appeal that with the environmental appeals board."

While the new $1 billion project, set to open in 2008, is closer to the Bow River than the Red Deer, the City of Calgary and the Municipal District of Rockyview couldn't agree on a deal for the use of city water.

In October, the Municipal District of Rocky View applied for a water licence allowing it to transfer up to 1,825,000 cubic metres annually from the Red Deer River, the last river in southern Alberta with available water-use licences.

In a release, the district called it an "innovative solution that will enable a development in east Balzac to move forward."

Not only would the amountquenchthe thirst of themega-mall and track, butit would also reduce water rates for residents in several Rocky View communities by nearly $1 a cubic metre.

Mayor has concerns

Bryce Nimmo, whowas elected mayor of Drumheller this week in a byelection, saidhis town is concernedabout how much Red DeerRiverwater will be needed for the project. The river flows through his community.

Nimmosays there are also questions about what the water transferwould mean forthe town's water treatment plant.

"That treatment plant more than likely will have to have some upgrades both in capacity as well as quality," he said. "Who pays for any upgrades? And if, in fact, there needs to be, when will it be done and how will it be done?"

However, theproject can't be blocked by his town if the province approves a water license, he said.