There are some gentlemen waiting to start their engines and hit the track at the Badlands Motorsports Resort.
    It seems like a pace car has been circling for years since the announcement of the unique facility to be located in Kneehill County.
    The Mail learned this week that the first reading of the rezoning application in Kneehill County that would allow the project to move forward was approved 6:1 by Kneehill County councillors.
    The project has been in the works for years.
    “This is a significant step towards a world-class motorsports facility becoming a reality in Southern Alberta; a facility which is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of motorsports enthusiasts throughout Western Canada,” said a statement released by Jay Zelazo, president and CEO of Badlands Motorsports Resort. “As many of you already know, this project has been in development since 2005.  The process has taken longer than expected, but all issues have now been resolved.”
    The project will be built around a 4.4-mile adaptable professionally designed road course with a paddock. It includes commercial development, non-motorsport recreational development and a residential development.
    The first phase, according  to its website, is to build the road course and skid pad, and to have paved access from Highway 9. It will be located about six kilometres south of Highway 9 on Range Road 212A, between Drumheller and Rosebud.
    Phase two will include commercial paddock space available to auto dealers and automotive services. There will also be an indoor paddock and car storage area for club members.
    As it progresses, the third phase will include a hotel and clubhouse, and the final phase will be residential condominiums near the clubhouse and zoning for residential lots.
    Engineering and assessments of the environmental impact and sound impacts have been completed. Civil engineering, including water runoff, treatment and storm water retention, have been completed.
    Before the project commences, it will have to pass second and third readings. These include a public consultation process. The public consultation is slated for June 11.
    “Based on information provided to us by the Development Office of the Kneehill County, we are confident that all of the concerns raised by the area citizens have been addressed and we are very optimistic that we will obtain the final approvals in June 2013,” states the release.
    If the project is approved, they plan to begin construction in the spring of 2014.

Michael James
The Drumheller Mail

    Canadian Badlands Ltd. is embarking on a new marketing campaign to help bolster tourism numbers across the Alberta Badlands after receiving a massive financial boost from the Alberta government.
    For Drumheller, it is hoped the campaign will help send more tourists through the dinosaur capital of Canada.
    “It’s an aggressive marketing campaign for the badlands and is going to be a good thing for us. I had a chance to see a snippet of the campaign and it looks pretty good from what I saw,” said Mayor Terry Yemen.
    The Drumheller Town Council had concerns over the marketing direction of Canadian Badlands. Mayor Yemen felt any future campaigns should have a more prominent Drumheller presence.
    In addition to Drumheller, Canadian Badlands serves over 60 other communities in southeastern Alberta, including Brooks, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Rosebud, and Vulcan.
    The Alberta government is investing $550,000 to support  a collaborative tourism model led by Canadian Badlands Ltd.  The investment includes a $250,000 grant for the administration and operation of Canadian Badlands. The money will support the development of themed touring routes, attractions, outdoor recreation, and more.
    The investment will also help Canadian Badlands deploy the new marketing campaign created by TAXI, an advertising agency with offices in Calgary.
    “Tourism is everyone’s business,” said Doug Jones, President of Canadian Badlands. “With everyone collaborating, we have an extraordinary opportunity to generate economic activity and tourism development in southern Alberta. We are working together to make the Canadian Badlands the next iconic destination in Alberta.”
    The funding for the investment was provided through the Alberta Tourism Levy, a four per cent levy collected by hotels, lodges, and other temporary accommodations.
    “Tourism diversifies our economy and offers tremendous potential for growth and this is certainly true in the Canadian Badlands,” said Dr. Richard Starke, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. “Communities and industry are working together to enhance the profile and appeal of the region by encouraging investment, employment and development, and we are proud to support their efforts.”