DEER LAKE — With one year to go until the expiry of the Deer Lake’s municipal plan, councillors say they would like a review to see what has been accomplished and what hasn’t.
The municipal plan is available for public viewing on the town’s website. It was created in 2004 and is set to expire at the end of this year.
Myra Spence, who has only been on council for just over a year, said she would like to see a review of exactly what has been accomplished.
“I don’t think anyone ever went through it. There’s been no review of (what has been accomplished and what hasn’t),” she said. “I think it was made to sound pretty as a requirement but I don’t think we’ve ever used it as a guideline.”
Spence said, lately, everything seems to be happening very fast for the town with the industrial park running out of space and the airport expanding significantly. She said questions need to be asked about the future.
“Deer Lake is rapidly, rapidly growing. How are we going to accommodate this growth?” she said. “I think we need a real action plan to get where we want to go.”
Town representatives recently met with provincial officials to work out how they can expand the industrial park using neighbouring Crown land. Mayor Dean Ball told The Western Star at the time that it’s in the town’s best interest to be able to use that land because there is no place else to expand. It’s an issue, he said, that could stop town development in its tracks.
Coun. Jean Young said she would support a review.
“I think it’s important ... to have a plan that goes into the next term so the next council will have some background,” she said. “It’s important for us to take a town planning day, and I’d be very pleased if that could happen.”
Young would like to make sure the stadium is in good repair, and focus on initiating activities for senior citizens and young people.
“I’d love to see us build something like a gathering centre,” she said. “I think we need some plans for a new office and what shape it should take because, at the moment, we don’t really have a very good place.”
The town’s fire chief has stated a need for a new fire department. Councillors all seemed to agree that the Crown lands issue needs to be resolved, and they hope to hear in the coming weeks from the province.
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