M.D. of Taber analyzing Taber Regional Airport expansion

By Heather Cameron
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

During the M.D. of Taber Council meeting that took place on September 24, Administration brought a Request for Decision item before Council regarding a potential opportunity to examine the feasibility of expanding the Taber Regional Airport.

“This is an agenda item that Community Services has been coordinating actually with our grant writers to put forward,” said Arlos Crofts, Chief Administrative Officer for the M.D. of Taber. “It’s a potential opportunity to look at the feasibility of a Taber Regional Airport expansion. I know Council had brought this up I believe within the last 12 months, so we thought perhaps it’s a good opportunity to get some funds to do that project.”

Crofts stated that Administration has a resolution of support, which is required for the purposes of the grant application, from the Town of Taber, and the deadline for the grant application was October 1. Administration’s recommendation was that the M.D. support the submission of a 2024/25 Alberta Community Partnership grant application in for the Taber Regional Airport Expansion Feasibility Study, and be prepared to manage the grant project and related compliance requirements. 

On August 9, 2023, Administration’s request explained, the Taber and District Airport Commission directed Administration to put a request into Council for a runway extension that will support economic development in the M.D. of Taber and the Town of Taber area as well as mitigate limitations related to the projected change in Balance Field Takeoff requirements for bigger aircraft used for medivac and agribusiness.

In response to the Taber and District Airport Commission request, Administration’s memo explained, the M.D. of Taber in collaboration with the Town of Taber, is exploring the opportunity to expand the Taber Airport to accommodate larger aircraft, increase air traffic, and unlock further economic potential for the region, and as part of this process, a feasibility study is required to assess all considerations related to a runway expansion. 

Administration’s memo states that the preliminary estimate for the feasibility study is approximately $100,000 and assistance from the Alberta Community Partnership (ACP) grant program will offer an ideal funding opportunity to support this collaborative initiative without the need for immediate municipal funding. 

Formal support is required from both the M.D. of Taber and the Town of Taber to proceed with the grant application, according to Administration’s memo.

Ultimately, a motion was made that the M.D. of Taber support the submission of a 2024/2025 Alberta Community Partnership grant application in support of the Taber Regional Airport expansion feasibility study, and it prepared to manage the grant project and related compliance requirements, and there are no matching contributions required. The motion was carried.