Protect all communities in and surrounding the RM of Dundurn.

The RM is proposing zoning bylaw changes that reduce the minimum separation distances required for Intensive Livestock Operations and residences, communities, and Blackstrap Lake which is a part of the Saskatoon South East Water Supply System.

This impacts all communities within the RM as well as the surrounding area. This includes: Dundurn, Blackstrap Provincial Park, Blackstrap Lake, Shields, Thode, Skyview, SIR and anyone who utilizes or visits these locations. 

Intensive Livestock Operations (ILO) are an important part of Agriculture in our province. It is equally important that the maintain a safe distance and not impact Communities, Quality of life for residence, Eco Systems and Property Values. This can all co-exist with proper distance requirements. 

The distances in the existing bylaw already infringe upon the balance of the above. 

The RM of Dundurn is currently trying to pass a new Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw that reduces the minimum separation distance required for Intensive Livestock Operations. They are also trying to remove the requirement to get agreement from the impacted parties (residents, towns, resort villages) to give the RM sole discretion to grant approvals for ILO's at lesser separations distances than required by the bylaw. Currently the bylaw requires a written agreement between the developer of an ILO and the impacted party. 

Over the last 3 years a request was made for ILO to be a lesser than required distance to the Resort Village of Thode which is on the Southwest side of Blackstrap Lake. Satisfactory terms could not be agreed on. 

Now the RM wants to make the distance requirements less and to be able to use discretion so that written agreement is not required. 

The have lowered the distance to 300 meters from a single residence and 800 meters to a Municipality. That could be any municipality in or neighbouring the RM. For example: Dundurn, Shields, Thode. If approved the new bylaw would allow that, or even less if the RM approves it. 

There is a public meeting on May 21, 2024, for the RM to get input. Before that we need to let the RM know that these changes are not acceptable. 

This petition is to tell the RM that public objects to the new separation distances. To tell the RM to increase the separation distances by 1000 meters for every designation on their required distances chart, and make written agreement for anything less than mandatory for any ILO developer and the parties within that distance. 

Now is the time to ACT. Sign the petition to tell the RM how import this is.