The Westman ATV Association (WATVA) held an open house in Carberry to discuss use of an ATV trail through local Crown land. There were about forty to fifty concerned citizens in attendance, with issues ranging from noise concerns to trespassing and garbage to damage to the ecosystem.

One of the underlying concerns expressed was that citizens felt that the association had taken a backdoor route into getting the trail approved and that none of them had been consulted about it. While WATVA carried out all the correct procedures to get their trail - which runs exclusively through Crown Land - approved, those procedures do not at any point require they consult neighbouring properties or communicate with the community. While it is still referred to as a proposed trail, it has already been approved by Crown Lands, subject to their conditions.

This meeting, organised by the Cypress Planning office to bring the stakeholders together as a neutral third party, marked the beginning of communication between the organisation and the community at large. It was contentious almost from the beginning. While the organisation itself expressed a commitment to ensuring safe use of the trail, including fire protection and cleanup, they have also shared a map of the trail online and whether intentionally or not have invited ATV enthusiasts from around the province who may not share their values.

The area experienced a significant wildfire last year, and there are concerns that an errant ATV spark could easily set off another. As well, there was evidence provided that the ATVs who go off-trail into virgin soil are both damaging a fragile native ecosystem and also transporting invasive species with them.

Some attendees own neighbouring farmland and have experienced trespassers tearing up pasture land with ATV and leaving broken fences and rutted soil behind, in some cases allowing livestock to escape. Others had retirement homes adjacent to the trail and found the constant noise on the weekends unbearable.

The ATV association attempted to address these concerns but most of their resolutions could only apply to members of their association and not to the dozens of others who have now begun to show up from around the province. Some solutions might include increased signage, a requirement of their permit, and removing the map from public access, but the general consensus seemed to be that the cat was out of the bag now. The resounding message from the community was, “We don’t want you here,” but there was no movement from the association on that point.

Representatives from the Crown Lands branch of the provincial government were unavailable at the meeting but subsequently met with a few officials and citizens to hear their concerns and discuss the situation. There was no indication that they would be considering reversing the decision.