Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (Jan 16/06) - From strain on the health care system, to increased train and road traffic, to more homelessness, Hay River has more than a few worries about the impact of the proposed Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline project.

Arnold Martinson, the senior engineer with the Mackenzie Gas Project, discussed some of the impacts on Hay River at a Jan. 10 public meeting. IMPACT The following are some of the predicted impacts of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline project on Hay River: a peak population of 5,679 during construction, and a post-construction population of 4,782 (NWT Bureau of Statistics reported population in 2004 was 3,876). a 400-person construction camp on Vale Island for Imperial Oil employees, along with marshalling yards, a fabrication yard and barge-loading facilities. increased rail car movements - 100 in year one, 4,370 in year two, 4,319 in year three, 880 in year four, and 86 in year five. increased number of trucks in and out of the community - 673 in year one, 4,840 in year two, 3,047 in year three, 467 in year four, and 46 in year five; additional barge trips - 58 in year one, 456 in year two, 294 in year three, 49 in year four, and 48 in year five. - Sources: Mackenzie Gas Project and Town of Hay River

About 75 people - a massive number by Hay River standards - turned out for a Jan. 10 public meeting to voice their concerns and hear details on what will be happening in the community from a Mackenzie Gas Project delegation.

Although not actually on the pipeline route, Hay River's railway and barging facilities mean much of the material for the project will pass through the community.

The population will also surge during the five-year construction period, whenever that may begin. The most current statistics - according to a 2004 report from the NWT Bureau of Statistics - cite Hay River's population as 3,876.

Keith Marshall, the acting CEO at the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, said the thought of the pipeline "sends shivers up my spine," because of the potential impacts on health care.

Pipeline workers and their families will mean more demands on the system, Marshall said, noting the town currently only has one permanent physician and one locum, along with three social workers.

"There's a tendency for accidents to happen," he said.

Marshall advised the community that it will have to be proactive to prepare for the impacts.

Rev. Haydn Schofield of the Hay River Ministerial Association expressed concern about a possible increase in the number of homeless people and transients.

Right now, some people get off the bus in Hay River looking for work, he said.

"Often they're totally without economic resources. They're just broke," he said.

Sometimes social agencies in Central Canada put those people on the bus and send them west looking for work, he noted. "This is going to happen more and more."

Schofield said community facilities, like the youth centre, will also have to be ready to deal with an increased need caused by population growth.

Needs time

Hay River North MLA Paul Delorey said Hay River will benefit from the project.

"But it needs some lead time to get ready for it," he said.

Delorey also wondered if the railway into Hay River is ready to handle the amount of freight necessary for the project.

Arnold Martinson, the senior project engineer with Imperial Oil, said a study had been done on the rail system. "It showed the railway had some areas of concern."

However, Martinson said, if maintenance is kept up on the railway, it will meet the pipeline project's needs.

Mike Mageean, a captain with the Hay River Fire Department, is worried about increased train traffic - both noise pollution and safety at railway crossings.

"We have gone to a number of accidents involving trains," Mageean noted.

The Town of Hay River presented a report on how the pipeline project would affect municipal operations.

The town is calculating a peak population during construction of 5,679 and a post-construction population of 4,782. That figure includes 400 construction camp workers and 800 in spin-off growth.

That population growth will affect municipal services in numerous ways - everything from the need for more residential and industrial lots to the landfill.

Todd Pittman, the town's public works director, noted demands will also increase on the now-volunteer fire department.

"That may present a problem for us," he said.

The town does not have the capability to provide the additional level of service without committing to a full-time staff, which is not a feasible option, he said.

The increased activity will also mean more maintenance for streets, and increased traffic and parking concerns.

Pittman noted the pipeline project may even affect the town's ability to attract staff, since it will offer many high-paying jobs for several years.

"The Town of Hay River may not be able to compete," said Pittman.