Swallows vs racecars: Farmers vow to keep up the fight against proposed motorsports park approved by Alberta officials
The Rosebud River winds through coolies, providing shelter for bats, Falcons and threatened species like the Bank Swallow. If you’re ever floating down the Rosewood River, if you’ve ever done that, it’s peaceful and quiet. A group of residents has been fighting efforts to build a motor sports resort here. The Alberta Environmental Appeal Board recently dismissed a challenge by area farmers. It just seems like a crazy idea to. This whole thing seems like a crazy idea. It’s basically going to fragment and and. And destroy. Some of the wetlands, the appeal board said there wasn’t enough evidence that the racing complex would harm birds. It did require the developers to do wetlands monitoring. We abide by all the regulations and should there be some danger existing, we will engage to either stop construction if that was the case or whatever the case. But that is not something that is what they say. But there’s no there’s no. Evidence of that, But opponents say the destruction of the wetlands doesn’t make sense and they question why the province is allowing the project to go ahead. Because of the drought, there’s even more pressure on the Valley and. Every inch of the habitat down there is necessary for the survival of the wildlife. The CFO of Badlands Motorsports is confident the provincial government will provide $11 million to upgrade the gravel access Rd. to the site. He expects construction to start this fall, depending on financing. Those who live in the area who have already spent over 10 years and their savings preventing the paving say they’re not giving up. Carolyn Curry de Castillo, Global News.