Buffalo Project/Lake level will rise in Premier's back yard

BUFFALO PROJECT Lake level will rise in Premier's back yard By A s h l e y G e d d es ( Herald writer) / EDMONTON — The government chose the last day of the spring ses­sion to give the go- ahead for a con­troversial $ 15- million project to raise the level of Buffalo Lake, near Premier Don Getty's country estate. Getty, whose Stettler riding en­compasses the lake, is on an over­seas trip. But the Opposition cried foul, charging the project isn't justified, and the timing of the approval — with Getty out of the country and the session ending Tuesday — was aimed at damage control. • Don Braid A3 " I think it stinks," declared New Democrat environment critic John Mclnnis, who described the plan as " a pork barrel project" which will on­ly benefit Getty and a few other landowners near the lake. Studies conducted since the 1960s found the project wanting on eco­nomic and environmental grounds, Mclnnis noted. A recent consultant's report said the economic benefits would amount to less than the cost of the project and would mainly ac­crue to lakefront property owners. But a government- appointed pan­el released a report Tuesday recom­mending the project proceed. The panel's report notes there have been 43 studies and reports done on the project since 1968. Algae growth and the impact to waterfowl wetlands were cited i n the past as environmental concerns. Panel chairman Don Thorne ac­knowledged previous studies have raised economic and environmental concerns, but said it's now believed the project will have a net economic benefit and the environmental prob­lems can be mitigated. " As we say in our report, the need for the project has actually been de­cided by the many requests from area residents over the years," said Thorne. Environment M i n i s t e r Ralph Klein said that based on the report's findings he'll recommend cabinet give the green light to the project, a move expected to be a formality. Asked what happened to make the project feasible now, K l e i n re­sponded: " I t h i n k things have • hanged. What has changed is that here were further studies and fur-her evidence." Countered Mclnnis: " The only ling that changed is that the pre-ier ran there in a byelection." Liberal environment critic Grant tchell was also skeptical. " I think ere's a direct coincidence here be- - een the existence of the premier that riding and the existence of is project," he said.