While growth in the overall area hasn't exactly been stellar in the past few years, the local economies have benefitted from a recent upswing in the resource sector and that growth is reflected in the numbers.
For example, Hinton, on the west end of the county, had already reached 40 housing starts at the end of July, more than surpassing its totals for each of the previous three years. Development permit values were tagged at $17.13 million for the first eight months of the year, putting Hinton well ahead of its 2012 pace.
Coal mine planned
The improved building numbers in Hinton likely reflect what's clearly on the minds of locals these days: an expected major expansion of the coal-mining industry just southeast of town.
Coalspur Mines Ltd. has its plans in place, including approved financing, for what's known as the Vista project - a mine with the potential to produce up to 12 million tonnes of clean-burning thermal each year. The fuel will be moved via CN Rail to the West Coast for Asian markets.
The mine comes with an expected capital cost of $458 million and will be constructed in one phase, once the Alberta Energy Regulator gives it the expected green light.
"Being able to construct the facility in one stage as opposed to the previously envisioned two provides for more effective project execution and delivery," said Coalspur president and CEO Gill Winckler.
Local residents, like Coalspur officials, want to see things move ahead sooner rather than later, according to Kimberley Worthington, Hinton's economic development and housing manager.
"The mood of the community is, 'Let's get on with it, let's get moving," said Worthington, who cites growing single-family house prices in the community as a harbinger of an expected boom.
The average house price in Hinton has jumped from $342,000 to $389,000 in the past year - a hike of roughly 13.7 per cent.
Studies done as part of planning for the mine have predicted housing will be an ongoing issue in Hinton.
"We're looking at about a 20 to 25 per cent population increase once operations are ramped up to full capacity," Worthington explained.
That would boost Hinton's population to over 12,000 from its current count of 9,640.
Entrepreneurs looking for space to build locally can find industrial land for $220,000 per acre within town boundaries.
Tourism is also an expanding industry, though there haven't been any major new hotel projects of note in the past few years.
Major retailers such as Walmart and Canadian Tire are already in Hinton.
Edson
Down the road in Edson, the community is patiently waiting for the completion of two major projects: a large new Canadian Tire store and a new hospital. The latter will include acute- and continuing-care sections, and will ring in at about $186 million when all is said and done.
The initial budget was set at $108 million before the new Edson Healthcare Centre was deemed worthy of 24 acute- and 76 continuing-care beds. The project is expected to be complete in 2015 and extend Edson's reach as a service centre in the western portion of the province.
There has even been some serious time, effort and cash spent on exploring the opportunities for ongoing commercial air service into Edson's airport, which has a suitable runway for commercial traffic.
Edson has also embraced a project that's focused more on and under the ground. As of the end of August, it was considering implementation of an off-site levy bylaw to pay for future growth.
Development levy
"It's a way for us to fund our capital projects," Lemieux said of the potential levy, money from which could help fund a proposed major sewer line extension in the west end of the community. The new sewer line would address something missing in the market, according to Lemieux, who says Edson has a shortage of service commercial/industrial land.
Henry Boxma, a veteran local realtor with Re/Max Boxshaw Four Realty, concurs, describing Edson's market as steady, but certainly not booming.
Commercial sites cost in the range of $90,000 for a 7,000-square-foot lot, while industrial land runs around $250,000 per acre.
Also, the town is ready to start selling lots in its new Hillendale residential development, which will offer properties in the $115,000 to $170,000 range.
from Western Investor October 2013
