Public Notice

Notice of intent to make a determination

Sandy Bay Road Upgrades – Public Comments Invited

April 22, 2025 – Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Sandy Bay Road Upgrades project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination.

Written comments must be submitted by May 22, 2025 to:
Indigenous Services Canada
Alvin Hamilton Building, 1783 Hamilton Street
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2B6
Email: isc-skenv@sac-isc.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) is planning to upgrade their existing community transportation and stormwater drainage systems in Wapaskokimaw (Sandy Bay) Indian Reserve No. 202. The overall length of roadway to be improved is 2.2 km. The existing road and drainage systems are in need of repairs and upgrades to address blocked or missing culverts, heavily rutted sections, loss of roadway shape, washed out sections and sections with very little traffic gravel remaining. The improvements include culverts, ditch drainage, and roadway design. The current road widths vary from 7.0 m to 10.0 m. Drainage will flow in two directions; from the high point on Sandy Bay Avenue south of Linklater Place to a low lying area west of sewage pumping station (SPS) No. 5 on McDonald Drive, and to the drainage channel near the SaskPower Corporation (SPC) corridor and drainage outlets west of Churchill Crescent.

Road and drainage work is proposed in two phases and sequencing is proposed to begin with the downstream locations and work upstream.  Drainage upgrades include new corrugated metal pipe culverts at driveways, roadway low areas and roadway intersections, and ditch maintenance and improvements. Entire roads within the work area will be reshaped to improve the crown and cross-fall (side slopes).

Site preparation activities include vegetation clearing and mowing within the work area. Topsoil will be preserved and stockpiled in piles less than 2 m high for landscaping purposes following construction. Construction activities includes rehabilitation of existing roadways and ditches (shaping, compaction, and grading) and installation of new culverts. Existing drainage outlets will be rehabilitated, and new drainage outlets will be installed. Culvert inlet and outlets include the installation of rip rap. Disturbed areas will be landscaping with retained topsoil and a seed mix appropriate to match the existing vegetation and site conditions.