By Angela Brown

RM of Meota resident concerned about heavy traffic from project

Sep 7, 2018 | 9:35 AM

An RM of Meota resident is concerned about future noise and dust from heavy truck traffic crossing her property related to a proposed new oil production plant for the area.

Tanja Straub said she has contacted the RM of Meota council about the issue and hopes something can be done so the company can find an alternate transportation route for the project. Straub is worried about how the traffic and dust would impact livestock on her farm at Scent Grass Rd., a grid road off Highway 4, after seeing traffic come through the area for the project planning work about two months ago.

“We have a nice, quiet peaceful life out there so far,” she said. “If I would have wanted all that traffic, I would have moved to downtown Toronto.”

Straub said she is aware of another resident who has an acreage near the intersection of Highway 26 and Highway 4 in the RM of Meota, who also has concerns about potential noise and dust from truck traffic related to the project. Straub also has issues with public safety, saying many people access the same road as the one proposed when driving to the nearby lake in the summer.

Council for the RM of Meota discussed some of the details for the proposed project at their last council meeting on Wednesday. Reeve Sherry Jimmy confirmed Serafina Energy is looking to start a new plant in the area, and the company has put forth a proposal to develop a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) oil production plant, called Meota East. The RM of Meota plans to meet with the firm in the near future.

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Serafina previously held an open house for the public to discuss the project.

Jimmy said the route the company’s trucks will be taking to and from the proposed plant hasn’t yet been finalized.

“That’s part of the reason for our meeting with Serafina later this month,” she said. “Once the route is decided, then the RM has an obligation and a commitment to our ratepayers … [to have] mitigation meetings with the people in proximity to that area who feel that they will be adversely affected by the route.”

Jimmy said some ratepayers along the proposed route have expressed their concerns about the impact from the traffic.

“Everyone likes to see economic development, but it can be a challenge when it’s in your own backyard,” Jimmy said.

Jimmy said the RM likely won’t be able to resolve everyone’s issues related to the transportation route planned by the company, but “we’ll certainly do our best to mitigate where we can.”

She added the RM does have a responsibility to ensure the road infrastructure within the RM to and from Serafina Energy’s proposed plant is maintained so the product can be properly transported. She said the proposed plant is located east of Highway 4, so no matter which route is chosen, there will have to be an access off that highway.

Calls by battlefordsNOW to officials with Serafina Energy were not immediately returned.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW