BULYEA, Sask. – Residents in the Rural Municipality of McKillop, northwest of Regina, voiced concerns over development in the area Saturday.
About 350 people came out to the Bulyea Community Hall to share their thoughts on issues including roads, sewage disposal and wildlife encroachment.
Resident Bob Wilson started a petition to get residents involved in McKillop’s future and sort out challenges the RM is facing.
“Currently we have no lagoon facilities for septic disposal,” he said. “All of the garbage from these hundreds and hundreds of beach development residences is being trucked to the landfill in Regina.”
Councillor Murray Wild knows his neighbours are frustrated.
“People have concerns about a quality of life change in the RM if the lake just becomes completely saturated with homes,” he said.
As a farmer, he’s having trouble with seeding because of the poor condition of roadways in the area.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a resort person or a farmer, mobility right now is a real battle. The roads have failed. Divisional roads have seen an increase in traffic from resort people trying to get to their cottages. You can’t blame anybody for that because of the highway failure,” said Wild. “It’s been Mother Nature, that’s who we can blame this on.”
575 residents currently call the RM home year-round, and many don’t think the area can accommodate more growth.
“I would be in favour of a 3-5 year moratorium on development,” said resident Steve Wallace at the public meeting. “Right now many of the problems we are having is because of the number of people coming out.”
Most in the room agreed, including Keenan Seattle. He is worried about builders encroaching on wildlife habitats.
“Just the presence of people will drive animals away,” said Seattle.
Seattle also wants young people to be able to have the same experience he did, growing up on Last Mountain Lake.
“My experience with nature is so fulfilling. It’s basically paradise. I just think if we could preserve some of this wonder for future generations that would be fantastic.”
Wild wants council to focus spending on the current residents: “How many developments are there that have a ball diamond, or a skating rink? Or even land set aside for that use?”
Based on resident feedback, council will look to develop a new plan to shape the RM’s future.
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