The Melfort Campground is only open to essential workers. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

Melfort Campground Update

Melfort Campground remains closed to recreational camping

May 21, 2020 | 2:00 PM

Recreational camping at the Melfort Campground won’t be taking place any time soon.

In March, public health restrictions were put in place by the provincial government due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those restrictions meant campgrounds were not allowed to open for recreational camping.

Because of that, the City of Melfort cancelled all future campsite bookings, and stopped their online campground booking service.

“Following that, the city was advised that we could use the campground as accommodations for essential workers,” Director of Development, Planning and Community Relations Brent Lutz told northeastNOW.

The city has decided to allow essential workers to stay in the campground so some of the major local projects can go on without interruption.

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“What we’re referring to here primarily are workers that are working for contractors that are undertaking infrastructure programs and working for municipal and provincial utility services,” Lutz said.

Some of those projects include highway improvements, water and sewer installations, and a major internet service upgrade in Melfort, Tisdale, and Nipawin.

The Re-Open Saskatchewan plan launched by the provincial government permits some recreational camping as of June 1. However, Lutz said campgrounds can only allow occupants in every other campsite.

“That makes it very impractical for us at our campground, because presently we’ve got all the sites occupied with essential workers,” Lutz said.

Until the province relaxes the restrictions on campgrounds, the city has decided to only allow essential workers into the campground, and it will not open to recreational camping.

Lutz said they will issue updates on the campground’s status should the province relax the restrictions.

“Once we open for recreational camping, we don’t want to have to reduce our available campsites in half,” Lutz said.

He said the city is hopeful once the restrictions are lifted they will be able to allow bookings from the general public, and re-open their online booking service.

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cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974