A potential land deal is in the works between the City of Portage la Prairie and Carpere Canada that will be more fully dealt with in September, when the proposed subdivision will be made public.

Carpere made the offer to purchase the 45.6 acres of land, just west of Angle Road in the southeast area of Portage, for development.

Councillor Wayne Wall says the proposed subdivision will then be made known.

"One of the things that makes this all possible -- this $850,000 land sale -- is the fact that we decided to put a major lift station in that area that would service the entire 50-odd acres," says Wall. "There we are, with 45.6 acres for sale with a lift station in place, all serviced and ready to go."

He explains, originally, there was a possibility of assisted living to go in across the road by the people building there now. Wall notes this means a couple of small lift stations could have been made to pump over to the sewer on Dufferin Avenue.

Wall says Portage is getting the attention of other developers as they observe the opportunity we have here for them to invest substantial amounts of money into our town. He adds Carpere also purchased all of the McMillan Industrial Park land as well as the land surrounding the old Campbell Soup factory.

"They're really counting on developing agribusiness with companies in partnership to make those properties pay," Wall continues. "And those people, of course, will need places to live as well."

City Administration recommended the city accept the offer as well authorizing the City Manager to negotiate the terms of a sale and development agreement.