Discussions

For some God awful reason the City has slashed and clear cut 5-6 acres of thriving oak tree forest cover between the tennis courts and yard compound at the Wheat City golf course. As if that wasn’t bad enough, dozens & dozens of huge and healthy trees have been bulldozed over along the dyke on the #2-#6 holes. Why was there NO public input or consultation on this very important decision. This is my city too and I loved how beautiful and picturesque that greenspace was. Brandon taxpayers should be absolutely furious. Heads needs to roll over this whether its City staff, councillors, or even mayor Rick Chrest.

I have know idea why the trees were cleared. Im sure there was good a reason behind it. There not going to clear the trees just for the heck of it. But your best bet would be to contact either the city or your councillor and inquire as to why the tree were cleared. That would be your best bet to find out.  
 
 
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-03-24 17:03:45

inquired with the golf course as to why? Or are you coming on here complaining without doing any investigating yourself?  
 
Here's a link to the contact information.  
http://wheatcitygolfcourse.ca/contact-us  
 
Edited by Trevor B, 2016-03-24 17:13:14

Yes my inquiries have gone unanswered for over a week now

There's a story today(March 26th) about the clearing of the trees and the reason for it in today's Brandon Sun.

Now they're clearing away all the trees along Hole #16 which is at the top of a steep riverbank incline. The city is just Hell bent on destroying as much natural habitat as they can. It's sad.

Send them my way there is a city maple I would love to disappear

How long-ago was it that flooding restricted access to the entire area. How quickly we forget.  
 
 
 
 
Edited by loeog, 2016-03-27 11:28:21

we golfed there a couple times last year and it has come a long ways......and from the flood to know it is in good shape....cant wait to get out there again

The city needs to sell this golf course and focus on doing city things instead of golf.

I don't agree Orion. For those of that golf around here I would love to see that city golf course cleaned up and running. A lot of people golf in Brandon and I'm sure it would be well used if they could clean it up and keep it from flooding. Brandon lacks outdoor recreation and I'd hate to lose more of it. It is more than just a golf course. It's also nice green space for the city.

From my experience, having visited, worked and lived in cities much more progressive and insightful, an Environmental Assessment is typically done when urban habitat is altered for any reason.  
Was that done in this case?  
Has there actually been a financial cost/benefit assessment done on the renovation of the dike around the golf course?  
Will a dike actually work, or will drainage from ongoing west end developments and seepage from perpetual high water levels render the dike a complete waste of tax payer dollars?  
 
I would hope there has been some serious deliberation done on the part of City Council and The Administration on this matter, but I doubt it.

Tippytoe said "I don't agree Orion. For those of that golf around here I would love to see that city golf course cleaned up and running. A lot of people golf in Brandon and I'm sure it would be well used if they could clean it up and keep it from flooding. Brandon lacks outdoor recreation and I'd hate to lose more of it. It is more than just a golf course. It's also nice green space for the city. "

if the city sold the golf course to a private company? I think a lot of people in Brandon think it shouldn't be run by the city. Plus as the city pays top wages for 95% of their job positions it costs a lot of coin to run and maintain the golf course.

Johnbisonbear said "    Tippytoe said "I don't agree Orion. For those of that golf around here I would love to see that city golf course cleaned up and running. A lot of people golf in Brandon and I'm sure it would be well used if they could clean it up and keep it from flooding. Brandon lacks outdoor recreation and I'd hate to lose more of it. It is more than just a golf course. It's also nice green space for the city. " if the city sold the golf course to a private company? I think a lot of people in Brandon think it shouldn't be run by the city. Plus as the city pays top wages for 95% of their job positions it costs a lot of coin to run and maintain the golf course. "

A community is only as good as it makes itself. You may not golf, but should this city also get rid-of or privatize everything that makes it a community?  
 
Walking trails  
Paddling pools  
Green space development  
Flower gardens  
Parks with fire pits  
Ice rinks  
Swimming pools  
Support for the arts  
Library  
Tennis parks  
Soccer park support  
Winter games support  
Summer games support  
Curling events support  
Baseball parks  
Outdoor fitness equipment  
Skateboard park support  
Hanbury Hill development  
Spray parks  
Skating oval  
Dog parks  
Bike trails  
Downtown HUB development  
Riverbank development  
 
When a community has nothing to offer, drugs and alcohol and everything they bring takes over.  
 
I also think a city with nothing to offer sees businesses and professionals leave.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edited by loeog, 2016-03-27 19:20:37

Johnbisonbear said "    Tippytoe said "I don't agree Orion. For those of that golf around here I would love to see that city golf course cleaned up and running. A lot of people golf in Brandon and I'm sure it would be well used if they could clean it up and keep it from flooding. Brandon lacks outdoor recreation and I'd hate to lose more of it. It is more than just a golf course. It's also nice green space for the city. " if the city sold the golf course to a private company? I think a lot of people in Brandon think it shouldn't be run by the city. Plus as the city pays top wages for 95% of their job positions it costs a lot of coin to run and maintain the golf course. "

We sell it to a private developer who will turn it into an entertainment center which will have a casino that some Brandonites long for in it! If you want, we can keep atleast 9 holes of the golf course around while we are at it. Mayor Chrest, let's make my idea happened!

AndrewCrew said "From my experience, having visited, worked and lived in cities much more progressive and insightful, an Environmental Assessment is typically done when urban habitat is altered for any reason.   Was that done in this case?   Has there actually been a financial cost/benefit assessment done on the renovation of the dike around the golf course?   Will a dike actually work, or will drainage from ongoing west end developments and seepage from perpetual high water levels render the dike a complete waste of tax payer dollars?     I would hope there has been some serious deliberation done on the part of City Council and The Administration on this matter, but I doubt it. "

So what value would an environmental assessment provide? Are you concerned about perhaps deer habitat being affected if so there is still lots of bush left for the deer, so I don’t see any detrimental affect on urban habitat. Enough money is wasted on consultations in situations such as this one which do nothing more than slow a project down.  
 
As far as a financial cost/benefit assessment, again the city and anyone for that matter can figure out that if we sit back and do nothing costs will rise.  
 
You are right drainage from above will always be a concern, however drainage patterns can be altered, as well pumps can be used if needed if it is only minimal drainage from above.  
 
Through past experiences with recent floods we don’t need a consultant to tell us that the dike should be higher.  
 
I walked the golf course today and in my opinion the OP’s concerns are really unwarranted. Trees along the dike have to be removed in order to build the dike higher to allow for truck hauls. Trees removed adjacent to the rough on the 16th fairway open up a view of the river this was nothing more than tangled brush. Trees removed north of the 18th fairway where a lot of the fill for the dike will come from also are not in any way detrimental to the course.  
 
While this work should have started 2 or 3 years ago before the fairways were reseeded I commend the city for getting on with this project. Brandon needs a decent golf course and in the past this was one of the best in the area.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edited by Reggie 2, 2016-03-27 20:50:07

If you think the city is going to have a big consultation every time they need to cut a few trees you are just dreaming. The city workers are well aware the amount of moaning and bitching they will face so they just get on with it and save us a fortune in futzing around costs.  
 
When I used to do tree removal in conspicuous places I always liked to do in a rain storm, kept the whiners at home.  
 
Thats how I did it at the Keystone, they were in the dirt before the tree huggers ever knew what hit them

loeog said "    Johnbisonbear said "    Tippytoe said "I don't agree Orion. For those of that golf around here I would love to see that city golf course cleaned up and running. A lot of people golf in Brandon and I'm sure it would be well used if they could clean it up and keep it from flooding. Brandon lacks outdoor recreation and I'd hate to lose more of it. It is more than just a golf course. It's also nice green space for the city. " if the city sold the golf course to a private company? I think a lot of people in Brandon think it shouldn't be run by the city. Plus as the city pays top wages for 95% of their job positions it costs a lot of coin to run and maintain the golf course. " A community is only as good as it makes itself. You may not golf, but should this city also get rid-of or privatize everything that makes it a community?     Walking trails   Paddling pools   Green space development   Flower gardens   Parks with fire pits   Ice rinks   Swimming pools   Support for the arts   Library   Tennis parks   Soccer park support   Winter games support   Summer games support   Curling events support   Baseball parks   Outdoor fitness equipment   Skateboard park support   Hanbury Hill development   Spray parks   Skating oval   Dog parks   Bike trails   Downtown HUB development   Riverbank development     When a community has nothing to offer, drugs and alcohol and everything they bring takes over.     I also think a city with nothing to offer sees businesses and professionals leave.                   Edited by loeog, 2016-03-27 19:20:37"

No I don't think they should stop supporting those things cause there are very few of those things in the city that are privately owned. But golf courses. Common. We got. Deer ridge. Sunny side. Shilo. Glen Lea. Tourus. And a few driving ranges. Do we really need one more half of a golf course that is a constant money pit of our tax paying dollars. I think not. Just my opinion

loeog said "    Johnbisonbear said "    Tippytoe said "I don't agree Orion. For those of that golf around here I would love to see that city golf course cleaned up and running. A lot of people golf in Brandon and I'm sure it would be well used if they could clean it up and keep it from flooding. Brandon lacks outdoor recreation and I'd hate to lose more of it. It is more than just a golf course. It's also nice green space for the city. " if the city sold the golf course to a private company? I think a lot of people in Brandon think it shouldn't be run by the city. Plus as the city pays top wages for 95% of their job positions it costs a lot of coin to run and maintain the golf course. " A community is only as good as it makes itself. You may not golf, but should this city also get rid-of or privatize everything that makes it a community?     Walking trails   Paddling pools   Green space development   Flower gardens   Parks with fire pits   Ice rinks   Swimming pools   Support for the arts   Library   Tennis parks   Soccer park support   Winter games support   Summer games support   Curling events support   Baseball parks   Outdoor fitness equipment   Skateboard park support   Hanbury Hill development   Spray parks   Skating oval   Dog parks   Bike trails   Downtown HUB development   Riverbank development     When a community has nothing to offer, drugs and alcohol and everything they bring takes over.     I also think a city with nothing to offer sees businesses and professionals leave.                   Edited by loeog, 2016-03-27 19:20:37"

I am only suggesting the WCG course be sold to a private developer!  
 
Do you honestly think that our city does NOT have a major alcohol and drug problem now?? Then you are living in a dream world!  
 
The money saved and earned from selling the WCG course could be used for the much needed soccer pitches right?  
 
Edited by Johnbisonbear, 2016-03-28 08:16:36

1: You do know golf is the number one practiced sport in Canada.  
2: Two of your listed golf courses are soon to be gone due to construction  
3: And the last one is in the community of Shilo (sprucewoods area)  
 
 
I don't camp, MAYBE we should look at getting rid of Provincial Parks and camping next. Different tax bill, but still a tax bill.  
They do have private camping.  
 
Edited by loeog, 2016-03-28 08:22:05

Money wise, the city should sell the golf course. From what I have heard and read the city puts a lot of money into the course every year, yet makes little to no profit on it. The thing is if the city did sell it, it doesn't mean the course is going to shut down. They can sell it to a private company who has the intentions of continuing to run it as a golf course. But I cant see the city selling it and it would be a tough sell anyway.  
 
 
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-03-28 11:10:56

At the very least the City needs to have some public consultation on this matter. This whole thing has no transparency and is being done behind the taxpayers back. They are trying to hide all the damage that is being done along that river. This greenspace belongs to everyone

The_Young_Man said "Money wise, the city should sell the golf course. From what I have heard and read the city puts a lot of money into the course every year, yet makes little to no profit on it. The thing is if the city did sell it, it doesn't mean the course is going to shut down. They can sell it to a private company who has the intentions of continuing to run it as a golf course. But I cant see the city selling it and it would be a tough sell anyway.         Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-03-28 11:10:56"

doesn't have any intention of selling the course. Never have, never will.  
 
I don't know why they are so hell bent on keeping ownership.

The_Young_Man said "Money wise, the city should sell the golf course. From what I have heard and read the city puts a lot of money into the course every year, yet makes little to no profit on it. The thing is if the city did sell it, it doesn't mean the course is going to shut down. They can sell it to a private company who has the intentions of continuing to run it as a golf course. But I cant see the city selling it and it would be a tough sell anyway.         Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-03-28 11:10:56"

It is interesting that every time WGC is brought up people say the city should just sell it. Do people honestly believe there are private companies / investors just lining up to buy the golf course? There may be a few people in town who actually have the means to buy it and run it as a golf course but ask yourself why would they want to?  
There would be more interest in the property to develop into condos but really do we need more condos?  
The city needs one good golf course and the steps they are taking including clear cutting trees in order to build up the dyke to avoid future flooding are a step in the right direction.  
 

Like I said in my previous post I can`t see the city selling the golf course and it would be a hard sell. Who would buy a golf course in an low lying area right on the edge of the river that constantly floods. Its not in a very good location and in more than one way.  
 
But Don't get me wrong, I think the city does a great job of running and maintaining the golf course. Honestly I've got no problem with the city running it. It just too bad the city cant make much of a profit off the course, but it is what it is and you have to maintain what you own. The city is doing the best they can with the circumstance at hand.  
 
As for the trees, apparently a lot of them had Dutch elm disease according to an article in the newspaper on Thursday.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-04-01 23:04:40