Work on casino delayed

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This article was published 27/07/2011 (5161 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Construction of the Spirit Sands Casino and Resort has been delayed by several months as the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs finalize legal documents, says a spokesman.

"Financiers are working on the necessary documents," said AMC economic development business analyst Rob Ballantyne, adding that financing agreements and general services agreements had yet to be hammered out.

"It has been a challenge. It has delayed us to ensure that the proper legal documents are in place."

Ballantyne said the AMC has a "myriad" of lawyers working together to finalize details to ensure construction can move forward later this year.

The AMC had hoped to begin work at the site this spring, but that timetable has been pushed back. While Ballantyne says they hope to begin next month, he was hesitant to give an exact date.

"I don’t want to give a hard date, (because) we haven’t been able to meet that."

The delays have pushed the scheduled opening of the casino to fall of 2012.

The $40-million development, which will be built near Spruce Woods Provincial Park south of Carberry, will be the first casino with profits split between all 64 First Nations in Manitoba. It will be located on Swan Lake reserve land next to Highway 5, about 16 kilometres south of the Trans-Canada Highway.

The AMC completed a 45-year lease with Swan Lake First Nation last year for use of the land as well as a general services agreement with the band. Last January, provincial and aboriginal leaders formally signed a gaming agreement to officially license the facility.

The AMC has an agreement with Red Lake Gaming Enterprises — a First Nation casino-operating company based in Minnesota — to develop and manage the casino.

Ballantyne says the AMC still has the support of Swan Lake First Nation, Manitoba Lotteries Corp., and the Red Lake managers as they move through the difficult legal process of getting a casino up and running.

Earlier this year, sections of Highway 5 were affected by spring flooding along the Assiniboine River. One section of the road skirting Spruce Woods Provincial Park remains closed to traffic.

A spokesman with Manitoba’s Department of Infrastructure and Transportation said the flooding washed out several areas along a 23-km length, with some washouts as deep as 12 to 15 feet (3.6 to 4.6 metres).

"Access to the area needs to be established by hauling rock into the Marsh’s Lake area north of the Assiniboine River and add granular fill and base course to the road surface," he said in an email.

"Once access is established, the areas south of the river needs to be assessed for similar repair. The Assiniboine River bridge also needs to be carefully assessed as it may have severe scouring due to the extreme high water."

The department hopes to have the road repairs completed over the next two or three weeks, depending on the severity of damage.

While flooding and the road closure have caused headaches for area residents, Ballantyne says the washout has not affected the casino’s construction schedule.

"The site is on high ground," Ballantyne said. "The north access from (the Trans-Canada Highway) is open. We are situated north of the Assiniboine River and the site hasn’t been impacted."