Many bravos and thanks to Skipsted et al and their legal team who fought this for years and to those who filmed and photo documented the breathtaking beauty of the area to be destroyed; the experts; politicians and visitors opposed; the courageous locals who attended council meetings, put “No Racetrack” signs up and were determined in their opposition; the many who wrote letters; the journalists; those from afar that voiced their shock and horror; and to Sharlene and Rob who were passionately opposed while they were alive and surely had their wings in this great and vital victory.
The ruling:
@nigelb.bsky.social:
Justice Gaston of the ABKB has delivered a blockbuster of a judgment in the Rosebud Racing Track case. The decision deals with a bunch of important things incl: the implications of SARA critical habitat designations for provincial decision makers, the precautionary principle …
… the nature of an appeal to the Environmental Appeals Board (and what do we mean by de novo and related questions of onus), reasonable apprehension of bias and institutional bias.
Bottom line: the EAB’s decision is quashed and the matter remitted to the Board for a new hearing.
Good news for bank swallows, golden eagles & those who don’t want a racetrack for rich folks as their neighbours.
Me! My 50 acres is part of the critical recovery area for threatened bank swallows.
Also good news for those who want to see more rigour in EAB decisions.
Kudos to Skibsted et al for pursuing this, to their counsel & to wetland expert, Cliff Wallis.
Skibsted v Alberta, 2026 ABKB 98.
Skibsted v Alberta (Environment and Protected Areas), 2026 ABKB 98 (CanLII), https://canlii.ca/t/kj97q
2024: New study: Who likes loud cars? Psychopathic sadists.
@BCReality:
The millionaires built one on Vancouver Island and the local residents absolutely HATE it, the noise is pretty bad!
Dave Peterson (He/Him) @FedUpWithBadAir:
AND they cut down thousands of trees to build it as well (even though there are hundreds of existing clear-cut areas just down the road)… excessive wealth is destroying the planet.
Hugh Latta @bud_latta:
This would be a horrible mistake. Have been to the Rosebud area a few times. It really is part of unique ecosystem that would be horribly damaged (eliminated?) by such a development.
Pretty sure pavement and screaming un-silenced motor vehicles and fragile environments don’t mix.
MartinG@MartinGrasdal:
For a summer job, I worked in the Rosebud area in the 70s (ancient history) for ATCO, looking for gas line leaks. Beautiful area. I have vivid memories of that time.
To mar the area with a racetrack would not just be a shame, but border on criminal negligence.
Pristine views only matter when the coal, bitumen, oil and gas industry tells their precious lying lobbyist, Dildo Danielle, they matter.
Bethankit Hums@tangibullah:
I worry that this is a public demonstration of how little our government cares about natural values.
Jenny Yeremiy@JennyYeremiy:
100% we have to honour what is sacred. This project is a reminder of where we’re gone wrong and why it must stop.
Dave Peterson (He/Him) @FedUpWithBadAir:
Haven’t they already demonstrated that enough?
Bethankit Hums@tangibullah:
Sadly, my impression is that’s the plan. Like PM Harper letting Brewster build a tourist facility in Jasper National Park. It’s graffiti intended to show the public that we don’t actually care about these places, & we’ll prove it because we don’t want the public to care either.
Dave Peterson (He/Him) @FedUpWithBadAir:
So a combination of schadenfreude and sociopathy?
Sounds about right for the UCP…
Robert Tremblay @RobTPublic:
Funny how ag protection regs seems to only be for renewables
SA@SA89438217:
I think that the noise will greatly affect the wildlife, but that doesn’t seem to have been mentioned. The locals won’t be too pleased either.
Dave Peterson (He/Him) @FedUpWithBadAir:
The Guardian recently published a piece about new research showing the negative impacts on traffic noise on bird populations, so yes.
@albertabats:
And just like that. DEVASTATING NEWS about the Rosebud River. Alberta Environment has gone ahead with approvals for development of a racetrack IN THE RIPARIAN zone. This development will impact listed bat species summer & winter habitat.
Recent work by our program & a conservation partner has found that there was significant winter bat activity very close to this site. The riparian with steep banks provides habitat for roosting bats. This may be one of the most important hibernation sites for bats in AB!
Under the Alberta Wildlife Act, bat hibernation habitat is protected.Alberta laws and regulations never apply to the raping devastating rich and or corporationsBat species in the area include AB listed Western Small-footed Myotis, endangered Little Brown Myotis and Big Brown Bats.
Aerial insectivores in the area include these bat species and at-risk Bank Swallows. The proposed development plans to destroy two riparian wetland areas and impact the riparian zone with the racetrack & associated construction.
These riparian wetlands are vital sources of food for aerial insectivores that feed on emergent insects. The remaining wet areas are at risk of pollution from the racetrack (surface runoff, spills, etc), materials not friendly to aquatic ecosystems.
PROVINCIALLY, riparian habitat should be priority for protection. Not only is it important wildlife habitat but it also helps protect fish and water resources. In a province that often faces drought, it is short-sighted to not protect these habitats.
The questions to ask are, “Do we really need a multi-million dollar racetrack built in a pristine riparian area?” and, “Is there not a better place for this?”It’s absolutely not needed (the rich rapists want it, and abusive idiotic Alberta and the idiots who keep voting con, always caters to the rich), and yes, there is a better place, race track has already been built there, but of course, these raping rich doctors want their own rapist havenAlbertans need to voice their opinions on this (to their MLAs)
Could the decision on the Rosebud be reversed? It is up to the courts and the AB Minister of the Environment. It’s still confusing why this development needs to be in a river valley & is allowed to impact wetlands & significant wildlife habitat features.
Save The Rosebud@savetherosebud:
Thank you for this! From the beginning we’ve said a racetrack in the valley and one on top dumping stormwater into the wetlands is the wrong location!
Sabine Metzger@msabine900:
and finally: Who needs such a racetrack at all?Nobody.
***
‘I am angry’: Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort by Bill Graveland with files from Bob Webber, May 11, 2024, CTV News Calgary
A sign is shown near Rosebud, Alta., northeast of Calgary, where landowners are fighting a proposed racetrack on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures — and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Near that sign is another one telling would-be trespassers to stay off raceway property.
That sign is riddled with bullet holes, a pockmarked symbol of an 11-year battle pitting local landowners against a motorsport family determined to realize a dream of world-class racing.
The dream began in 2006 when Badlands Motorsports Resort purchased 194 hectares of prime land along the Rosebud River valley, northeast of Calgary.
- ‘We’re not very happy’: Residents opposing proposed Alberta racetrack not giving up despite regulatory ruling
- Contentious $500M motor sports racing park near southern Alberta hamlet seeks environmental approval
The plan is to build a $500-million racing park for street-legal machines. There will be multiple racetracks, a go-kart track, a hotel and condominiums.
Some local landowners want no part of it.
“I am angry that we have to put our community through this. It’s not right. It should never have gotten this far,” said Wendy Clark.
“We actually couldn’t believe that somebody would want to have property here and not enjoy it for the natural value that it has.”
Clark made the comments in an interview alongside husband Richard and neighbour Rick Skibsted.
They have Rosebud in the blood: Richard and Rick were born and raised there, while Wendy Clark has been in the hamlet for 42 years.
Rosebud is a tourist draw in and of itself, known for its local theatre and pie shop.
On the other side of the long-simmering battle is a group of doctors, led by Calgary radiologist Dr. Jay Zelazo. They bought the property, five kilometres from Rosebud, to build a new raceway after the only track near Calgary was struggling to stay afloat.
“It was the only property that we found that was suitable,” said Zelazo’s father James, who serves as Badlands’ chief financial officer.
“It’s our land and we’ve done what was required.”
He said there have been unexpected costs added to the $30-million price tag for the first phase of the project.
Zelazo said the company has to pave a 10-kilometre stretch of narrow, winding road to the site itself at a cost of $15 million.
Zelazo said the constant delays are frustrating.
“It’s the financing that we need to get. It’s nothing else. We have all the approvals,” he said.
“It’s disheartening (that opponents) won’t accept what the county made sure we did, meeting the bylaw requirements and all the documents just because they don’t want it.”
Opponents were concerned that filling in two wetlands to build the track would harm birds such as bank swallows, eagles, hawks and falcons.
Alberta’s Environmental Appeals Board dismissed that concern in March for lack of evidence and Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz later agreed with that decision.
But Schulz noted the board did order environmental monitoring and field surveys.
“They wanted to see some additional mitigation done to protect wetlands,” Schulz recently told reporters.
“I did accept that.”
Skibsted said swallows are already getting hit by cars and trucks and says the proposed racetrack will make things worse, coming between the birds and their food source.
The Alberta Wilderness Association said its concerns about the racetrack are more about the location than the project itself.
Conservation specialist Kennedy Halvorson said about three-quarters of the natural grassland in the Rosebud River valley is already gone due to human activity.
“It’s kind of one of the last areas of the grasslands that’s super healthy and has a lot of biodiversity. It’s also home to about 85 per cent of Alberta’s species at risk and the Rosebud River is no different,” Halvorson said.
Opponents say there can still be a win-win, that a fair offer is on the table if Badlands wants to sell the land.
“We would pay what it’s worth. It’s increased in value. We’ll provide a fair and equitable exit,” said Richard Clark.
If it’s no sale, the next step might be court, perhaps a judicial review of the environmental board decision.
“We’ve still got some more tools in our tool kit,” said Wendy Clark.
“We’re not done yet.
“And we’re pretty patient.”
Interviews at link: ‘We’re not very happy’: Residents opposing proposed Alberta racetrack not giving up despite regulatory ruling by Kevin Green, April 29, 2024, CTV News Calgary
Despite a recent setback at the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board (EAB), opponents of Badlands Motorsports’ proposed 4.8-kilometre road track near Rosebud, Alta., are not waving the checkered flag.
The racetrack, proposed to be built about two kilometres east of the hamlet, will affect wetlands adjacent to the Rosebud River, however, the EAB ruled that the environmental impact was insufficient to halt the project’s progress.
Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schultz endorsed the board’s decision on April 8, but Wendy Clark, a vocal racetrack opponent, believes the decision was predetermined.
“We’re not very happy with the way the decision went,” said Clark.
“But more than anything, we’re unhappy to discover that this, this decision was already decided before we ever went to the hearing.”
Clark’s allegation stems from a document she received through a Freedom of Information request (FOIP).
In the collection of documents she received, one was titled, “Bullet point for reappointment of board members.”
“The EAB currently has a large number of appeals before it dealing with economic development,” the document read in part.
It goes on to identify a project in Newell County, then directly refers to Badlands Motorsports.
”Another example is the Badlands Motorsports Resort near Rosebud. The timely resolution of the appeals before the EAB is important to ensure that these economically important projects can proceed,” the document read.
“It’s like they stacked the deck against us,” said Rick Skibsted, another racetrack opponent.
“They made us spend all that money, all that time preparing for it, and really, it was just an exercise in futility.”
Skibsted, a retired farmer, lives on a property adjacent to the proposed track. An avid birder and licenced falconer, he maintained the banks of the Rosebud River near the development are crucial for several protected migratory species.
“Those are unique wetlands. It’s actually under critical habitat (designation) for the bank swallows,” said Skibsted.
“I’ve always believed that that whole valley should be protected.”
James Zelazo, the CFO of Badlands Motorsports, said the opposition this project has received over a decade has hurt his company’s attempts to raise the money it needs to build the track.
He’s now confident it will ramp up after the ministerial approval.
“They’ve been creating negative publicity that does have an effect on our abilities to raise the funding, basically, memberships and things like that,” said Zelazo.
“They’ve been trying to defeat us. But … they have just been slowing us down.”
Zelazo says he expects both fundraising and construction to ramp up heading into the summer saying there could be shovels in the ground before the fall of 2024.
One other step before the track can proceed is the building of a 10-kilometre access road off of Highway 9.
Zelazo is confident the province will kick in $11 million to help pay for that upgrade.
Meanwhile, opponents say they will not give up the fight and are consulting lawyers to determine their next course of action.
Long-awaited Alberta race track opens near Carstairs, ‘I’m so excited to have a facility at this level in our backyard,’ says rider by CBC News with files from James Young, Jul 10, 2022 Noisy polluting racers in video at link to the article
Drivers have a new $35-million race track near Carstairs, north of Calgary, where they can push the upper limits of their speedometers.
The 3.5-kilometre track has been in the works since 2012.
Dominic Young, president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Motorsports, said it’s a big relief to finally welcome people to the facility after years of construction. It was designed by a German company and touts 16 turns and 36 metres of elevation. Drivers zoom by at speeds nearing 200 km/h.
“You see members coming off the track, they all have big grins on their face,” said Young. “It’s a thrill ride.”
The last race track in Calgary, Race City Speedway, closed in 2011, but Young said race car enthusiasts in the region haven’t disappeared.
“I think this is a vastly improved track,” he said.
Construction involved moving nearly two million tonnes of dirt to block as much noise as possible from reaching nearby residents.
Young said some neighbours are concerned about noise, so testing will take place over the next couple weeks to make sure the banks, reaching 15 metres above the pavement in sections, and wooden fencing are doing their job.
Track time split between members, public
For motorcycle rider and downtown Calgary resident Paul Horton, the opening of Rocky Mountain Motorsports means fewer long trips to race tracks in the Pacific Northwest. Now instead of a days-long commitment, working on his riding is a much more accessible pastime.
“This, you know, it could be a Tuesday afternoon and you can decide that you’re going to take the day off work and hop up here for a couple hours and then be home for dinner,” said Horton.
“It’s a ton of fun. I’m so excited to have a facility at this level in our backyard.”
Fifty per cent of the track time is reserved for members, which number about 150 so far, Young said. The other 50 per cent of the time is available to the public, through group rentals or performance driving schools.
“I think there are a lot of people out there that can’t afford our memberships and we want to have an opportunity to support grassroots racing in Alberta,” said Young. “It’s not intended to be so exclusive that public can’t access it.”
At the lowest level, memberships cost $45,000. The organization also offers two driving courses for race track beginners and intermediates.
“You have a lot of very technical corners that require a lot of concentration as you’re going through them,” says Maxx Ebenal, the chief instructor at Rocky Mountain Motorsports.
“You don’t have a lot of relaxing time. You’re constantly adjusting the driving style for each specific corner and the nuances of the way the track is.”
He said on a demanding track like this one, it’s not about immediately driving as fast as you possibly can. As with any skill, there’s a learning curve.
“We teach people to start quite slowly and then we’re working up the pace little bit by little bit,” said Ebenal. “The progression throughout the day is slow but they always come out being a better, safer driver.”
Young says that in the coming years, there are plans to add more facilities, including a clubhouse and car condos.
“For the first season, we’re just delighted that it is open.”
***
SA@SA89438217:
I’m not surprised at the report, however as someone who’s worked in natural areas I’ve seen the ill effects.
Dave Peterson (He/Him) @FedUpWithBadAir:
I often walk long distances through urban environments and the traffic noise is a real pain for me (especially since it prevents me from hearing my music!).
I also remember how my ears hurt for hours after I went to my first car race, even though I had worn hearing protection.
Jenny Yeremiy@JennyYeremiy:
This really comes down to a suicidal obsession automobiles.And the cruelty of humans to earth and other species.
Dave Peterson (He/Him) @FedUpWithBadAir:
Interesting way to phrase it, although I suppose there’s a grain of truth to that since driving at 250 km/h is not exactly low-risk
I bet they wouldn’t even spend money on safety equipment anyway, since it’s a private development and profit is all they care about.ya, private invasive project, that’s demanding the public pay for more and more and more of it. They’ll cause the harms, drive out the listed species and or wipe them out, destroy five wetlands, and keep the profits even though they and their enablers in UCP will make us pay for it. Rape on multiple levels.
Jenny Yeremiy@JennyYeremiy:
I mean the Ab gov loves and promotes everything fossil fuel related.and the raping docs plan to noisily commute via chopper to the track, from afar, polluting much worse to and fro, yes, wasting energy for nothing but harming others and to pretend they got big dicks
Dave Peterson (He/Him) @FedUpWithBadAir:
True. It actually baffles me as to why motorsports still use fossil fuels – they have the resources to be able to switch away from them, so the fact that they still do suggests they are either apathetic or corrupt (i.e. sponsored in whole or in part by the fossil-fuel industry).
I doubt they’ll love the hearing aids they’ll need when they’re older though (many NASCAR drivers develop severe hearing impairment or even complete hearing loss when they’re older)! Besides, even NASCAR has started muffling some of its cars, so…
SA@SA89438217:
Yes,and many animals have much more sensitive hearing than ours. How will this affect the audibility of spring and fall mating calls?Encana’s unlawful compressor noise drove many song birds out. I’ve lived abused by that noise for over 25 years. Horrid invasion of my life and that of the species I share my land with. Encana didn’t / doesn’t give a shit, UCP and the regulator doesn’t either, they just care about getting away with abusing the law, others, environment and birds and wildlife.
SA@SA89438217:
My father was head of Alberta Environment Water Quality Division and said that the PC’s regularly consigned pre and post impact studies to oblivion because the results would have hampered developments.
Ian@ian7952327:
I hate to say this but most of them voted for this!!
Dave Peterson (He/Him)@FedUpWithBadAir:
Yep… that’s the infuriating and heartbreaking irony of it.
Kathy: Mask for good health@Kathy_Edm:
Zelazo donate to #UCP. So much that needs to be protected from idiots who basically want to pave over paradise and put in a parking lot (and a resort) Sweet Rosebud.
VIDEO AT LINK WITH EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW LOUD ANNOYING AND AGGRESSIVE RACE CAR NOISE IS:
Duncan residents upset over noise from nearby race track by Asymina Kantorowicz and Jessica Lepp, Oct 19, 2016, CTV Vancouver Island
There is growing frustration in Duncan over a new race track and the noise it’s bringing to nearby neighbourhoods.
The dealer group GAIN opened the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit just north of Duncan in June.
The sophisticated track in the Cowichan Valley is a private members club and Canada’s only year-round motorsport facility.
Residents of Sahtlam have banded together saying the roaring sounds from the sports cars are destroying their peace and quiet.
“It’s bouncing off Mount Prevost and reverberating back through the valley,” one man said.
“It has been described as gates of hell noise,” another woman said.
According to North Cowichan’s mayor, there are two sides to the issue.
“The GAIN group has invested a great deal in our community, has followed all the rulesRules are useless (except for those causing the harms); rules are intentionally designed by enablers of rich abusers and rapists, to get away with harming communities, wildlife, drinking water, environment, with impunity and we think have done a great job on building their facility,” Jon Lefebure said.
The mayor said GAIN is complying with the rules, including a noise bylaw.Proof is in the noise pudding, that noise bylaws mean nothing. They’re just designed to let noisy fuckers “legally” invade quiet communities. Alberta has noise laws for the oil and gas industry, which Encana repeatedly violated, with aid by AER. When I presented evidence, carefully documented of the company violating the noise rules, AER banished me, judged me a criminal without a trial, and then, quickly deregulated to make all Encana’s noise law violations, “legal.” Some rule.
“Our bylaw says you can make a noise that is common to the business you are operating,” What vile harmful fucker. That’s not a rule, that’s abuse enabling Lefebure said. “If you are operating a test track for automobiles then the noise of automobiles running around that track is to be expected.”
According to the dealer group, it has purchased a noise meter that it will use on every car before it hits the pavement.ya, sure, like how Encana tests its noise by turning the noisiest compressor off during testing? I bet they hold the meter beside cars with their engines shut off. Besides, it’s not idling noise that’s the problem. Listen to the noise at clip above. The problems are the squealing tires, slamming brakes, and aggressive acceleration. Tire pollution is another serious problem.
In a statement to CTV News GAIN says, “Ninety-nine per cent of all cars operated on the circuit are street legal non-modified Sports and Performance cars.”That means nothing, many vehicles on Canada’s road violate community bylaws with enforcement officers usually doing nothing to enforce noise bylaws. Once the invasion is built, like frac compressors, the noise harms to health are endless with nothing legally to be done by the harmed, because of said “rules” in place that allow the harms. Despicable.
The mayor says the CAO is tasked with facilitating a noise study with both parties.I bet it’ll be a fraud, like all of Encana’s were in response to my noise complaint, and many others in the community.
“Some residents feel that it is unfairly damaging their quality of life and perhaps even a threat to their hearing,” Lefebure said.Noise harms can cause much worse health harms than just to hearing. Noise can cause severe stress, depression, heart attacks and has even been proven to cause murder.
Members of the Sahtlam Neighbourhood Association will attend meeting on Wednesday evening to further discuss the issue.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Richard & Wendy Clark – 403-823-0012
Contact: Rick Skibsted – 403-820-1523
Calgary, April 23, 2024
Alberta Environmental Appeals Board approves Badlands Racetrack that destroys critical habitat for federally listed species at risk
Board finds that “The Species at Risk Act is not within the Director’s or the Board’s jurisdiction to ensure compliance.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In January 2020, local landowners, farmers, conservationists, photographers and concerned residents and business owners from Rosebud, Alberta appealed an Alberta Environment and Protected Areas decision to approve the destruction and modification of five wetlands. Those wetlands are relied upon by federally listed species at risk, including the Bank Swallow.
The Appeal was heard by the Environmental Appeals Board and on April 9, 2024, the Environmental Appeals Board and the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Rebecca Schulz, released their 215-page report and decision.
In its report, the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board noted: “With 98% of this species extirpated, the Bank Swallows adjacent to the racetrack represent a sizeable portion of the remaining 2% of this Canadian species.”
However, the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board refused jurisdiction to protect the Bank Swallow, ruling that: “The Species at Risk Act is not within the Director’s or the Board’s jurisdiction to ensure compliance”.
Useless Board, except to cater to the rich and vulgar, including in the UCP.
“This decision by the Province of Alberta is totally unacceptable. How is it that a large-scale, high-speed racetrack gets approved in critical habitat for a species at risk that is dying because of collisions with motor vehicles? Alberta just approved the destruction of five wetlands in a federally protected river valley” says Rick Skibsted, an adjacent landowner and winner of the 2018 J. Laslo Legacy Award for conservation.
Rick Skibsted noted that “collision with vehicles” is one of five reasons the Bank Swallow population is declining. He said Badlands will build a racetrack between the Bank Swallow colonies and their source of food. “We all know what will happen to these Bank Swallows once this racetrack is built” he lament
Richard and Wendy Clark made a freedom of information request of the Environmental Appeals Board. One of the documents they obtained was a cabinet briefing appointing members to the Environmental Appeals Board. The cabinet briefing stated:
The EAB currently has a large number of appeals before it dealing with economic development. For example, there is an appeal before the EAB by Bow City Power, dealing with a new solar power and hydrogen storage facility in the County of Newell. Another example is the Badlands Motorsports Resort near Rosebud. The timely resolution of the appeals before the EAB is important to ensure that these economically important projects can proceed.
Resort? Calling it a resort is merely a way of trying to remove the noise and disturbance from the proposal. “Economic benefit” is a pipe dream. If the racetrack is economical or of any benefit except for the rich to abuse the environment, neighbouring landowners and the Hamlet of Rosebud, it would not be begging for $millions in money from taxpayers, and making us pay for $millions more for (paved) highway access upkeep in bentonite terrain that heaves and slumps regularly, and every spring.
“This shows that the Board was always going to rule against us and in favour of the Badlands Racetrack. The fact that the Minister only took twelve days to agree full scale with the Board’s report shows the decision was pre-determined” say Richard and Wendy Clark. “The worst part” they continue “is that we proved this project is an economic disaster. This will be yet another failed racetrack that is already asking for between $15 and $20 million in taxpayer funding to even get started. But not after destroying hectares of wetland habitat.”
The Environmental Appeals Board ultimately ruled that: “Recognizing the need for Alberta’s economic growth does not require an examination by the Director or the Board of the economic viability of this, or any, proposed project associated with a Water Act application.” Wendy Clark noted that “this means the province can destroy critical habitat for species at risk without any economic benefit.”
When asked if they will appeal the decision, the Appellants say they are discussing the appeal with their counsel and will decide in the next two weeks.
The report and decision are accessible here:
https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abeab/doc/2024/2024abeab7/2024abeab7.html?autocompleteStr=2024%20ABEAB%207&autocompletePos=1&resultId=030bb70344954efd87397f380fd787b4&searchId=2024-04-22T19:52:10:493/63cbe4c3d853423a91aff88596581996
Gorgeous photos in this thread below by AWA:
Alberta Wilderness Association@ABWilderness:
AWA objects to the province’s latest move to prioritize development over the health of vital ecological spaces.
Alberta Environmental Appeal Board announced it will allow the development of a racetrack within the Rosebud Valley, a critical habitat for bank swallow.
We hiked the Rosebud Valley last July. It’s made up of rolling hills and unique rock formations. Bare red, orange and pink striped cliffs could be seen between fields. Even in the heat of summer, wildflowers dotted the landscape, and birds flew past.
The Rosebud Valley is one of the few places where there is continuous native grassland, largely unbroken by cropland or human-built infrastructure, such as paved roads.
The construction of a racetrack not only threatens bank swallow breeding habitat along the riverbank, it will permanently destroy several wetlands, which bank swallow rely on for foraging, and provide habitat for many other species.
We can’t afford to lose any more of the prairie habitat.
Precisely because the racetrack will pollute and waste fossil fuels for nothing other than to wipe out other species and harm already frac-harmed rural Albertans is why it got approved. That and cause it’s to fatten the already fat (and very nasty ugly) rich. Race track lovers have already publicly stated they plan to chopper to the track from Calgary, Edmonton and further afield – think of the fossil fuels wasted, and the cumulative noise, air, and other harms.
Jeff Hutton@jjhutton:
Sadly the province kicking in 15M to pave a road so rich donors can race cars seems to be on brand. They should ask for an arena to go along with it.Don’t give Big Oil Dildo Danielle and her creepy evil Evangelicals any ideas
LA@trying2help:
Horrible that physicians are ploughing ahead with an environmentally destructive noisy polluting playground for their boy toys.
Drew Yewchuk@DrewYewchuk Arpril28,2024:
The Rosebud area racetrack decision has a common problem in Canadian environmental law. It pretends monitoring and reporting is a solution for environmental damage.
A requirement to ‘monitor’ means the approval holder fills out a lot of forms and hires a lot of consultants – but it means absolutely nothing for real environmental protection. The environment gets trashed and reports get filed that only environmental lawyers ever read.
Monitoring does not stop damage to keep a close eye on it (and since the corporation doing the monitoring is incentivized to find they are not damaging the environment; the monitoring is usually also deficient.)
Paperwork requirements create an illusion of heavy regulation because they require so much paperwork. But this is not useful regulation at all – the environment still gets trashed.
Endangered species need land, air and water, not paperwork!
The Board also does a ridiculous job of interpreting the precautionary principle that does not fit with existing [Federal Court] instructions from Morton v. Canada (Fisheries and Oceans), 2015 FC 575. The Board is taking the risky option, not the precautionary option.
Oops! Embarrassing error on my part – Morton is, of course, and FC decision: Federal Court. Not an SCC decision. I should get off twitter and back to fully edited blogs…Not embarrassing from my view, mistakes happen. Correcting them when discovered is what’s important, I think. Too bad our corrupt boards in Alberta, and politicians, don’t. Thank you for this important information.
Shame on them
Jenny Yeremiy@JennyYeremiy:
They won’t work in Rosebud but they drive all over it. Vomit emoji
Rugged Broad@ruggedbroad:
Doctors?!
K…not feeling so empathic about the sad docs and the increased capital gains tax…
Heather@HGanshorn:
Are these the same doctors who are crying that an increase in capital gains tax will bankrupt them?
Yield2Yetis@yield2yetis:
The same doctors who are whining about #capitalgainstax – bought a race track to go vroom vroom vroom? In drought stricken Alberta?
My Bluebird Flies Forever@FlyingStronger:
7 Doctors and a 500 million dollar racetrack and Doctors are worried about their capital gains tax?
safedr@safedr4:
As if I could afford membership let alone gasoline to drive that far. Oh, but could take a helicopter. Yeah, right!!!!
Darris Cameron@SmallAirDarre:
i have clients who sold some land near carstairs to build the racetrack there.
is a second track not too far away necessary and why does it need to be built on such precious land?Because humanity is inhumane, and religious humans in the UCP and TBA are stupid, arrogant, believe god gave them dominion over all, and think only the human species need exist on earth, and if we run out of food and drinking water, we can pray louder, and god will provide. Greedy fucking stupider than stupid Idiots.
News Release: Alberta Chooses Racetrack Over Threatened Species Protection by Alberta Wilderness Association, April 25, 2024
Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) objects to the province’s latest move to prioritize development over the health of vital ecological spaces.
The Alberta Environmental Appeal Board has announced it will allow the development of the Badlands Motorsport Resort to be built within critical habitat for bank swallow (Riparia riparia).
This decision was made despite the bank swallow’s Threatened listing in the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), and in the face of considerable evidence of environmental harm.
The appeal board admitted that “SARA is useful as a reference to identify species that should be considered.” Yet, in its decision, the board said “it does not have jurisdiction, nor would it be appropriate to opine on whether SARA applies to the Approval Holder.”
Bank swallow populations have declined 98 percent in Canada. The species relies heavily on spaces like that of the Rosebud Valley: cliff and bank habitat near waterbodies, such as rivers and lakes. The Recovery Strategy for the bank swallow (Riparia riparia) in Canada lists 55 kilometres along the shoreline of the Rosebud River as critical habitat.
Collisions with vehicles are among the top five reasons for the bank swallow’s decline. Now a racetrack will be built right in one of its last remaining refuges in the province.
The construction of a racetrack not only threatens bank swallow breeding habitat along the riverbank, it will permanently destroy several wetlands, which bank swallow rely on for foraging, and provide habitat for many other species.
AWA has previously written to oppose development in the Rosebud Valley, which also contains undisturbed natural areas and is within an identified Ecologically Significant Area.
“We can’t afford to lose any more of the prairie habitat,”says Ruiping Luo, AWA Conservation Specialist, “especially not in areas confirmed to be critical habitat for at-risk species, such as the bank swallow.”Especially given the horrific cumulative frac impacts (massive permanent water loss from the hydrogeological cycle; noise, light and toxic air pollution; toxic waste dumped everywhere on grasslands and croplands; and devastating habitat loss caused by Encana/Ovintiv, now Lynx, and Rosebud to be frac’d all over again by a hideous company with a vile operating policy, Persist Oil & Gas
This decision is shortsighted and will leave long-lasting damage in an already endangered ecosystem. The protection of the disappearing prairie habitat and endangered species such as bank swallow should be a priority.
For more information, contact Ruiping Luo (email hidden; JavaScript is required; 403-283-2025) or see Save the Rosebud’s news release.
‘Just ridiculous’: Bid to halt contentious badlands motor racetrack near Rosebud crashes, An appeal of the EAB ruling is being considered by the opponents but one said he suspects it would have little hope of succeeding by Bill Kaufmann, Apr 24, 2024, Calgary Herald
A contentious auto racetrack proposed for a site near the hamlet of Rosebud has been given the checkered flag by an environmental appeals board, angering opponents who fear for impacted wetlands.
In a ruling dated March 28, the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board dismissed a challenge by a group of concerned citizens of a 2020 Water Act approval by Alberta Environment and Protected Places of the $500-million plan to build a motorsports park and residential complex near the Rosebud River, 100 kilometes east of Calgary.
It would be built on a 425-acre site about five km east of Rosebud, a hamlet better known for its dinner theatre.
The two-person panel concluded there wasn’t enough evidence the racing complex, the construction of which would fill in two wetlands and modify three others, would harm birds such as bank swallows, eagles, hawks and falcons, while it imposed conditions like environmental monitoring and wildlife field surveys.
“The board finds that while there will be changes in the valley wetlands there was insufficient evidence of potential harm to the bank swallows arising from those changes, and that furthermore, mitigation measures will be taken during construction of the Badlands Activities,” states the ruling.
“The board also notes that the director has proposed adding a new condition to the approval requiring a wetland monitoring and reporting program. The board is of the view that these measures, taken together, will serve to minimize potential impacts to the bank swallows.”
It’s the latest disappointing pitstop in a fight against the track — proposed by Badlands Motorsports — that dates back more than a decade, said Rick Skibsted, whose farmland borders the site’s northern boundary.
The proposal that includes a 4.8-km road track and residential and commercial components has already been approved by Kneehill County Council.
Opponents say ‘decision was pre-determined’
“It doesn’t really make sense … they completely ignored the critical habitat of the bank swallows,” said Skibsted, who has lived in the area for five decades and insists there’s widespread local opposition to the proposal.
“There’s lots of other places to build racetracks, it’s just ridiculous.”
Skibsted said he has little faith any environmental monitoring program would make a difference or be enforced.
Opponents say it appears the UCP government influenced the appeal board’s decision, making the outcome already decided, and noted Environment and Protected Places Minister Rebecca Schulz signed off on the board’s decision on April 8.
“The fact that the minister only took twelve days to agree full scale with the board’s report shows the decision was pre-determined,” Richard and Wendy Clark, who also live in the area, said in a statement.
“The worst part is … this will be yet another failed racetrack that is already asking for between $15 and $20 million in taxpayer funding to even get started. But not after destroying hectares of wetland habitat.”
Company looks to begin construction this year
A man behind the proposal said the EAB ruling speaks for itself and called the lead opponents “pinheads” who’ve “brainwashed” local residents and managed to drown out considerable support for the project among the Calgary motorsports community and others.
“They have no evidence for (environmental concerns) whatsoever, they just talk about it,” said James Zelazo, CFO for Badlands Motorsports Resort.
Wetlands/Water
Rosebud’s drinking water aquifers need all the help they can get, not more harms by greedy selfish rich (that live elsewhere) fucking communities and environment of others, after Encana/Ovintiv illegally frac’d them, rendering the drinking water for Rosebud Hamlet contaminated and in some wells, too dangerous to even use to flush toilets.
Wetlands recharge aquifers which humans and livestock need to rely on more and more as surface waters and glaciers vanish, while frac’ers intentionally keep permanently removing water from the hydrogeological cycle, enabled by AER, Alberta Environment and the corrupt rich coddling UCP. I’ve summarized other concerns previously in letters and posts. If there truly were no concerns, this invasive monstrosity would be constructed in Calgary, Red Deer, Cochrane, or Edmonton, not the sensitive Badlands.
The roads needed to access the race track heave every spring and are treacherous when wet. City drivers will lose control of their vehicles, slide off the roads, causing lots of harms, perhaps deaths and requiring endless aid from first responders and the volunteer fire dept, taking those services away from the locals that pay for them. Taxpayers are being made to pay for paving the roads to the resort because the greedy rich are selfishly unwilling to live with one way in. The costs will be horrific because of the frost heave damages to the pavement (the roads are unpaved for good reason). And the fuckers are not willing to damage their multimillion dollar cars driving on gravel or slick bentonite.
“The EAB decision was completely in our favour … we have the right to use our property the way we want as long as we follow the regulations.”
The company hopes to begin construction this year but Zelazo said its progress depends on financing, which is initially focused on constructing a $100-million primary racetrack well above the Rosebud River.
Another potential track, he said, would dip into the valley.
They’re confident the province will kick in $11 million to pay for most of the cost of upgrading a 10-km access road from Hwy. 9.
- Motorsport track opens north of Calgary after years of delays
- Police issue dozens of tickets, warnings in Foothills industrial area street racing sting
Once complete, the track would reduce illegal street racing in Calgary by giving those drivers a place to pursue their passion, said Zelazo.
“Three hundred people have put down deposits (to race recreationally),” said Zelazo, adding investor interest has come from as far away as Abu Dhabi.
“This track will be F1 calibre, it’s world-class stuff.”
‘This government doesn’t care enough about the environment’
An appeal of the EAB ruling is being considered by the opponents but Skibsted said he suspects it would have little hope of succeeding.
“This government doesn’t care enough about the environment and when you’re fighting the government, it’s really tough,” he said.
As of mid-afternoon Wednesday, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas hadn’t responded to a request for comment.
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Comments:
Mike Tibbs:
500 million [laughing to tears emoji] for a track in the middle of nowhere? Not one tax dollar better go to that FAIL track..I’m sure street punks will observe the speedlimit as they drive 100 kms to Rosebud from Calgary.
Kathleen Johnson:
This project is completely inappropriate for this sensitive area. We call upon Alberta to halt this plan. Save the biodiversity, support the local community who have spent 10 years of their time and resources to defend these special lands and wildlife. Please do the right thing!
John Piera:
Motorsport enthusiasts deserve a place to enjoy themselves, but it will be an odd match between peaceniks, artists and nature lovers who make up the current community of Rosebud, and adrenalin junky self indulging motorheads who are moving in.
Hammond Heggs:
“… drown out considerable support for the project among the Calgary motorsports community …”
NOTE: it’s the CALGARY motorsports community. Why doesn’t that community confine itself to Calgary instead of a community 100 K east of Calgary? How is this progressive for Alberta?Because the rich scuzz bags know residents of Calgary would not put up with the noise, pollution, invasion of their own.
Jeanette Carolyn Clark-Parkin
There isn’t the infrastructure to support all of the traffic to this venture.
The roads to this location are secondary gravel roads. Who is paying to upgrade this?Ordinary non rich Albertans, in usual UCP rape & pillage of people struggling to feed their kids and unable to afford to drive to work. Worse, originally, the race track invaders promised to pay for the paving of the roads if the public paid for upkeep, which will of course, on regularly heaving bentonite, cost much much more than the paving. Now, the racing rapists are demanding ordinary Albertans pay for it all. I bet that won’t be enough. I am sure they will demand we pay for the entire $500 million and more, and the corrupt woman mad with power, kid rapist worshipper Dildo Danielle, will bend over.
In case of injury what hospitals are in the close vicinity?
Drumheller-30 miles, Strathmore 60 miles (approx.), Calgary 75 miles (approx.)
Where are they going to draw staff from to fill the need to service all of the customers that they will draw from.
This group has made enemies’ of the locals i.e.: farmers, the Rosebud residents are focused on the Theatre, (no staffing draw there)
If you check the moth-balled list of over 70 ace ways. Why not resurrect one of these!
Some of the locations are closer to centers where the infrastructure will support a race-way.
Refer also to:
2018: To the Editor, Another perspective on a racetrack in the Rosebud River Valley by Wendy Clark, The Capital
Photo by Jon Groves
Dear Editor:
Re: Badlands Motorsports Resort working to finalize plans
You may be interested in another perspective on a racetrack in the Rosebud River Valley.
I am pleased to fill in a few gaps for your readers. A picture of the beautiful Rosebud River Valley and its pair of famous golden eagles would likely be well received.
Most importantly Alberta Environment and Parks have not received a completed application nor vetted this development, let alone approved it. The proposal is for a racetrack in the Rosebud River Valley surrounding and destroying wetlands and draining into the river. Many of at least 83 species of wildlife rely on this quiet and remote location for their survival. When the application is complete over 100 residents and Wheatland County are prepared to send Statements of Concern. Environment Minister, Shannon Phillips, has promised a rigorous review process to ensure any unmitigated impacts do not have a significant effect on the environment including wetlands and species at risk. She has also assured us that participation the proponents have had with other departments, including Tourism and Economic Development, is not indicative of the Government of Alberta’s endorsement. We believe that Alberta Environment and Parks have the tools in the Water Act and new Wetland Policies to effectively regulate against this development.
This land was zoned as Agricultural when purchased. As such the landowner had absolutely no entitlement to a land use change regardless of how many check marks a development officer could make on planning document. The landowner has no entitlement to any further approvals from Kneehill’s current council. With each decision Council’s highest consideration should be given to the care of our most precious natural landscapes and to ensuring the quiet enjoyment of neighouring property is maintained.
The location for this proposed racetrack facility is on the south most corner of Kneehill County, bordering and sharing the river valley with Wheatland County. 85% of the residences affected are in Wheatland County and are overwhelmingly opposed to a racetrack development. Their concerns have been ignored.
Kneehill County residents should be rightly concerned about liability the County is assuming with any further approvals. Racetracks in Alberta have extremely high failure rates and this one is a particularly risky experiment. The development on the escarpment above the river valley is pavement, concrete, buildings, and storm ponds packed into less than 160 acres with no room for expansion and reliance on a very complex and high maintenance stormwater plan. A racetrack proposed in the valley itself surrounding and destroying the wetlands will cause high impact destruction to grasslands, wildlife habitat, and historical resources that can never be restored.
Kneehill County will ultimately be responsible for clean up when there is an accident, the plan cannot be maintained, or the development is abandoned. Kneehill County will be responsible for maintenance, retaining walls, and slumping banks on six miles of pavement to nowhere. Wheatland residents will be sure to hold Kneehill County responsible for the damage to a set of very important wetlands and to the river itself. Kneehill County will be responsible when residents up and down the river valley find their property values drastically reduced by the noise and traffic of a racetrack. Kneehill County will have alienated a whole community and a neighbouring County by forever altering the river valley.
Recently Rick Skibsted won Wheatland County’s Jim Laslo Legacy Award recognizing his lifetime legacy of stewardship of the Rosebud River Valley. Rick has committed over 1,800 acres of land bordering the Rosebud River Valley to a conservation easement, protecting both the valley and cultivated land on top from any future development.
Land immediately west of the proposed racetrack has also been committed to a conservation easement. Landowners up and down the valley are enthusiastic about conservation. River valleys must effectively be conserved as contiguous ecosystems. Any degradation or fragmentation is cumulative. The unthinkable tragedy for the Rosebud River Valley would be racetracks with high fences blocking habitat, 100 high powered cars and motorcycles at one time operating at ridiculous noise levels echoing off the valley walls and driving wildlife from their home, and contamination of wetlands and the river itself.
Kneehill County is struggling with a compost facility gone wrong. Think carefully about what could lie ahead. Council has the opportunity to stop and rethink this racetrack, to take time to understand all the facts and reports, and to initiate honest and open communication with the Rosebud Community and Wheatland County.
Sincerely,
Wendy Clark
Save the Rosebud
***
Alberta cannot afford to destroy more wetlands, they recharge our aquifers which we need as human pollution destroys our atmosphere, and droughts ravage us.
BELOW BY THE BAD GUYS (INVASIVE GREEDY SPOILED WATER, OTHER SPECIES and ENVIRONMENT ABUSING FUCKERS:
Butiq Escapes@butiqescapes March 14, 2918:
Have a great time folks! We have been weathering quite the amount of hate mail and social media attacks after publishing our article…it’s kinda crazy =/
Badlands Motorsports Resort@Badlandsresort:
Thanks @butiqescapes Those are some very positive words! We can’t wait to make it real.
2018: Butiq Escapes@butiqescapes:
I can only wish you all the best, what a dream come true and our team is here to help spread the word and send client’s when you’re up and running!
from Victoria, British Columbia
06 Mar Alberta Motorsport Racetrack & Resort Coming Soon
Posted at 04:25h in Magazine by Ryan Clark by Butiquescape
Those that know us know we’re huge motorsport nerds who love to drive, race and explore with vehicles in Canada and the getting just got REAL good. We’re excited to talk about the Badlands Motorsport Resort in Alberta and showcase what we know based on the information given to us. We do know the tracks have been designed by THE Alan Wilson of Wilson Motorsport International, which means it’s going to be fantastic. Since their website just launched, we finally have a bit more information to go on and share with our client’s and followers.
We have been thoroughly enjoying the Vancouver Island Motorsport Resort for the past couple of years and we are excited to have something like it, but much grander next door in Alberta. What’s even more exciting is that unlike Area 27 and the VIMC this track will be more accessible to all drivers and cars that pass inspection. Except I doubt you’ll find a UPS truck flying by like you might on say the Nurburgring.
The Badlands Motorsport Resort will be more than just a racetrack – which we’ll go into – but as you can see from the picture above there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re wanting to test a new production vehicle or work on your drifting, there’s going to be a corner for you.
The Location
Located in the Badlands of Alberta, this location spans four hundred and twenty-five acres north of the Rosebud River and has been rezoned for motorsport resort development. The track will blend in beautifully????!!!! Lying Fuckers with the natural surrounding managing to complement the beautiful setting. This part of Alberta doesn’t get a whole lot of rain and a whole lot of sunshine year round making it an ideal location.
The Motorsport Track(s)
Like I said before, this is going to be a large facility with more than one track allowing drivers of all abilities and skill levels a playing field. First up the Kart Track is a 1.6 km bender that will serve for kart days, training and more visitor oriented karts. Next to that will be a skidpad with plenty of room for a bit of autocross, drifting and testing out other various issues with your car. Either way there will be a skidpad, thank goodness!
You’ll also find two different track styles to play on – and that’s just so exciting to be able to say. The North Track are for those with a lot of power and great brakes. As you can see below, the North Track has a few turns and one helluva straightaway that will allow you to test out what your can can do in a safe environment. I cannot wait to even just come watch the cars roar down this straight from the comfort of the resort.
Last but not least, the Valley Track offers something more up my alley and suited to my car. Those corners look challenging and lest we not forget elevation drops. There’s nothing more exciting than the moment when you’re hitting the crest, pushing the very limits of your differential and tires.
All in all, this is going to be a track that will rival anything in North America – let alone Canada. It’s going to be perfect for every skill level with instructors on site for those that want to learn with the best. While the driving may be the best part, the karting and racetracks are just the beginning of what’s on offer here.
The Motorsport Facilities & Resort
So let’s talk about how the Badlands Motorsport Resort is going to be more than just a track. This is going to be a vacation destination for not only petrol-heads, but for families and groups of friends to enjoy together. The track is set to be in early operation come August 2019, so sooner rather than later.
However, there will still be resort amenities to be built and perhaps residential/vacation homes being built on the expansive site. This means the chance to own a home here, enjoy restaurants and even go for a hike are going to be possibilities that have already tempted me to call my Realtor and move me out of BC.
We’re excited for this to come to Alberta and the extra tourism that it will bring along with a lot of jobs here. Best of luck to all involved on this project and we cannot wait to not only send clients, but come race against them! For those wanting to sign up right now you can reserve a spot by visiting the Badlands Motorsport Resort website.
And more:
2021: Take your environment and community raping Rosebud racetrack and stuff it you know where: Calgary.