Rain delays Newcastle Beach maintenance

    Newcastle Beach is one of Drumheller's prime park areas and because of high water it is looking a little shabby.     Last week, town crews were at the beach cutting weeds at the park. According to Mayor Terry Yemen, the wet spring and high water levels in the Red Deer River have prevented the town from keeping it maintained.
    “The biggest problem with Newcastle Beach is that it has been under water most of the spring and summer,” said Yemen.
    He said recent rain has not allowed town crews to operate equipment in the park.
    “Once Mother Nature co-operates and the beach dries enough to allow equipment, there will be a complete clean up in this area,” said Yemen.
    While they will be able to cut back some of the brush and clean up the beach area, Yemen says because it is right on the river, some improvements, such as replacing sand on the beach, are not feasible.
    “Although it runs through the valley, the town has very little say in what we can or cannot do with the shoreline as this falls under the authority of Oceans and Fisheries. Adding sand that may be introduced into the river is not a practice which they will support; in fact the town would face a substantial fine if we were to do so,” said Yemen.
    Another project the town is working on is improving signage at the entrances to the Town of Drumheller. Yemen explains they have begun working with Canadian Badlands to upgrade and improve signage at the entrances of the town.
    “The town is actively involved with Canadian Badlands in trying to secure funding for a rebranding of the valley,” said Yemen.
    These efforts with Canadian Badlands are in hopes of securing funding from the province for the project. This goes along with an effort to look at branding in the valley.
    “We want to get the funding, and then work with some specialist in the field, so it is going to be a process,” said Yemen.
    “When you drop down the hill and get to the sign, it is not like Vegas with lights and flashes. We do want to jazz it up somewhat, but right now we don’t have the funding.”