Private firm to operate campsites
The provincial government is turning to the private sector to develop and run a long-term, full-service, seasonal campground at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park north of Swift Current.
The province says it has struck a $1.275-million agreement with a firm called Cactus Blume Campground Ltd. to build, manage and operate a full-service, seasonal campground with a maximum of 125 campsites. “The company will be paying the government — a commercial lessee agreement similar to many other ones,” said parks ministry spokeswoman Karen Webb.
“This campground will provide clients with access to a full-service campsite and the ability to remain in the same site, year over year,” the parks ministry said in a news release issued Tuesday morning.
Although the ministry is not “actively pursuing” such projects, it will examine proposals brought to it by developers, Web said.
Construction will start this fall and is expected to be completed by June of 2016.
The ministry added this is the second campground of this type to be developed at Saskatchewan Landing.
The previous development opened 80 full-service campsites in 2010, is fully occupied and has been “very successful,” said Susan Graham, the parks ministry’s manager of business development and leasing, who added there’s growing interest in seasonal camping.
As well, there’s been a similar development at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park for several years and one coming at Blackstrap Provincial Park.
Cactus Blume owner John Bardahl could not be reached for additional details, but Graham said the agreement covers 25 years, with the possibility of a 10-year renewal based on certain capital investments by the developer.
She added it will give campers “fairly large” sites, places for boat storage, a playground and laundry, plus electricity, sewage and water.
In addition to generating income for the government, it lets the ministry concentrate on its traditional specialty of night-to-night camping, Graham added.
Cathy Sproule, the NDPs’s parks critic, said she’d like to hear more about how the developer was selected and is offended with the government’s insinuation that “only a private company can create a high-quality experience,” saying this is “quite insulting” to the parks’ employees.
She’s said that she’s bothered by the idea of “exclusivity” around the project, and wondered if the seasonal campers would be chosen on a first-come/first-served basis or if another method would be used.
“There are a number of concerns,” she said.