Pearl Lorentzen

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader

For the first time since 2008, the M.D. of Opportunity has expanded the boundaries of Sandy Lake, Wabasca, and Red Earth Creek.

At the M.D. council meeting on August 27, council repealed the existing bylaws and gave all three reading to new bylaws, extending the boundaries.

There was no discussion at the meeting, as council had already discussed the changes at a policy meeting.

However, the written report says the benefit of each bylaw is “expanding the hamlet boundary will give the M.D. control over the lands for future development.”

The Sandy Lake expansion includes 19 new quarter sections. This appears to double the size of the hamlet. The new section is south of the hamlet and to the east, along the southern shore of the lake.

A quarter section is 160 acres, or 0.25 square miles or 0.64 square kilometres.

The Wabasca extension adds 36 quarter sections.

As Wabasca is much larger than the other two, this adds about as much land as half of the existing hamlet.

The extension is in an upside down ‘L’ to the east of the former boundaries. The top is seven quarter sections east and two deep, with the side 11 sections high and two deep to the south of the first section. It goes around Bigstone Cree Nation Wabasca 166A. It leaves several sections to the north of the reserve and one to the east.

The Red Earth extension is 12 quarter sections, on the east and north of the community (see map below). The eastern border is extended by one quarter section, plus two extra at the northern-most point. Above that, four sections are added to the north, with two above the addition and two above the former hamlet boundary. This area is east of the airport and the industrial area.