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Last updateFri, 11 Oct 2024 4pm

Aquaplex waterslide faces uncertain future

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    The Drumheller Aquaplex offers all year round fun for everyone. Unfortunately, despite the major renovations carried out  in the spring, its waterslide is still in need of  structural repairs.
    For five year old Matthew and three year old Ryder, the waterslide is the best thing at the Aquaplex. 
    Sarah Sam, their mother, explains “all they want to do when we go to the Aquaplex is go down the waterslide, they have such fun! There isn’t anything else for them to do there as no pool is available for them to splash about in unless I go in with them”, says Sarah, “I think they’d be very upset if they didn’t have it…I’d have to take them somewhere else out of town as there are no other public pools in Drumheller.”
     In view of the age of the waterslide, the conundrum now faced by the town is refit, replace or shutdown until funds can be found.
    Al Kendrick, director of Infrastructure confirmed “it is a major concern for us but is in our budget process right now.  We still have some issues we need to address a bit further before we move forward. Right now, this is sitting in the list and we really need to take a hard look at it this year.”
    Although there is no indication of the costs involved at this stage, a refit may not be an option due to the major reconstruction which may be required. 
    Kendrick is anticipating that a decision will be made on this issue during the first week of January as the town will need to have the grant application ready to submit for funding. Kendrick stresses that if the slide becomes unsafe at any point in time, it will be closed.
    Councillor Sharel Shoff told Inside Drumheller that following the town’s budget meeting on Monday December 14,  improving the waterslide is a high priority.
    No doubt the fate of the waterslide will be eagerly awaited in the New Year.

Local appointee to Health Advisory Council

 

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    Drumheller area resident Diana Rowe has been selected to serve on one of 12 newly formed Health Advisory Councils in the province.
    Rowe, who returned to the area about three years ago, was appointed to Health Advisory Council 9, which roughly mirrors the former Health Authority 5.
    She explains the councils are established to provide feedback on what is working well within the health system and may suggest some areas of improvement for service delivery.
    According to a release, the role of the councils will be to engage community members, gathering input and feedback on local health service delivery in communities across the province.
    “The appointment of the councils is a significant milestone for Alberta Health Services,” said board chair Ken Hughes. “We know Albertans have been asking for increased opportunities to provide feedback on health service delivery in the province. These councils will help us engage with communities and allow us to gather valuable information on local health care needs.”
    Rowe has significant experience working in the pubic relations and marketing fields. She was a community relations representative with McDonald’s Restaurant for 10 years and was also executive director of the Red Deer Downtown Business Association. She served one term as a  Red Deer City Councillor.
    Since returning to Drumheller she has completed contract with Children’s Services and FCSS.
    “Through my career work I have been involved with a number of boards and committees, both locally and provincially. I just always have felt it gives me the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution, and especially to health care, especially in Alberta right now,” she said.
    Currently she sits on the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) Central Region Community Board, as well as at the Drumheller Economic Development Task Force.
    While the members of all 12 boards were appointed on December 3, the councils in areas 7, 9  and 10 were appointed in November. She says she submitted an expression of interest to sit on the board and was interviewed shortly thereafter.
    “We’re going to act as a liaison between the community and Alberta Health Services. It is more of an advisory role,” she said. “We’ll also be considering safety and quality reports.”
   
   

Mechanical difficulty at Newcastle Lift Station

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Town of Drumheller work crews were called out to the Newcastle Lift Station this morning to look in to a mechanical problem.
    Early on the morning of December 18, there was a failure at the station which caused the system to be without power.
    The problem was repaired within an hour of Town crews arriving on the scene.
    The Town of Drumheller is advising residents in the Newcastle area to check their basements for any possible sewage backups.
    Director of Infrastructure Services, Al Kendrick said, “Our staff is well prepared and trained to deal with these unexpected situations. The power was restored very quickly and the lift station is now operating normally.”


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