By Sheldon Spackman

No Decision Yet

Lacombe council still considering options for former lagoon site

Apr 17, 2020 | 1:49 PM

Lacombe city council is continuing to consider its options for the reclamation of the City’s former wastewater lagoons.

On Tuesday, council directed administration to amend the list of next steps in the draft reclamation plan for the old sewage lagoon site, and return the modified plan to the next council meeting.

City officials say the adoption of a plan for the former lagoons on the city’ east side, is a requirement from Alberta Environment and Parks. However, there are currently no legislated timelines for implementation of an adopted plan.

With the City of Lacombe connecting to the Red Deer-based regional wastewater system in 2018, it’s noted the former wastewater treatment lagoons no longer serve their original purpose, making them an underutilized City asset.

Colliers International has been contracted by the City to help understand the feasibility of several reclamation options available for the former lagoon site – one which is made up of ten cells, including five large ones and five smaller ones.

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According to City officials, options will be considered if they advance the City’s internal strategic goals, augment economic development, or are likely to provide a positive rate of return for the City.

Three options were outlined by Colliers to council on Tuesday.

Option 1A includes reclamation of the land only, which would entail sludge removal and a fence built around the site to keep people and animals out. It would come at an estimated cost of $1.8 million.

Option 1B would include sludge removal, plus infill and cost roughly $21.3 million.

Option 2 would consist of land reclamation and a municipal land use, such as a solar farm, stormwater management facility, park space, dog park, soccer fields, or snow dump/salt storage facility. Colliers pegs that cost at roughly $31.4 million. It’s noted a snow dump/salt storage facility could be considered during 2021 budget deliberations.

Option three includes land reclamation and sale of the land at a cost of $21.3 million.

Colliers recommends the City first remove the remaining sludge from the lagoon cells and construct a fence around the site at an estimated cost of $1.8 million to reduce the risk of unwanted access to the site by people and animals.

Colliers also recommends the City reclaim the 6-hectare lagoon cell in the short term to address the current need for a municipal snow dump. The snow dump would reclaim approximately 10 per cent of the available land at the site.

According to Colliers, there is currently no projected need for additional industrial land in Lacombe.

City officials note administration is also actively pursuing a long-term revenue generating use for the rest of the lagoon site with an interested industry partner.