From The Portage Daily Graphic

Despite opposition, councillors with the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie have voted to approve the final draft of a 99-year lease agreement with the Portage Industrial Exhibition Association (PIEA).

The fairgrounds land, about 8.5 hectares in total, will be the site of the new Portage Credit Union Centre.

About 15 concerned citizens came out for the vote, including Portage MLA David Faurschou, who made a presentation to council about the different departments of the provincial and federal government that would have to be contacted before a permanent causeway could be built across Crescent lake.

Faurschou said he was asked to look into the matter by his constituents.

“What was a concern, and what I was asked to (report) to council was effectively the provincial permitting that would be required to provide access to the properties in which the RM was entering into a lease agreement,” said the MLA after the vote. “There are three departments of government that must rule on the construction of an access to the leased properties, and in addition to that, there are two departments of the federal government that are required to provide licensing as well.”

According to Faurschou, before the permanent causeway can be built, a licence would be needed from Manitoba Water Stewardship, Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation and Manitoba Conservation, as well as Navigation Canada and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Although the MLA couldn’t say how long it would take to get approval from the different government departments, he did say getting one licence through his government usually takes three to four months, as long as there is no opposition at public meetings.

Reeve Toby Trimble said the concerns brought up by Faurschou were not a concern of the RM because it’s the city that will be building the new causeway, which isn’t expected to happen for at least five years.

“The access is provided now, so it’s not part of the multiplex,” he said.

Patricia Hoyes, a concerned RM ratepayer, also addressed council with her concerns. She doesn’t feel the municipality is being straight forward and honest with constituents about what the project will cost to build and maintain.