App #	Proposed Development	Outcome	Estimated Cost
2010-01	new building	approved	$                        100,000.00
2010-02	placement of bungalow with 2 basement suites	approved	$                        100,000.00
2010-03	placement of a portable shed	approved	none given
2010-04	unattached garage	approved	$                            6,000.00
2010-05	shed	approved	$                            2,200.00
2010-06	detached garage	approved	$                          25,000.00
2010-07	shed addition, front driveway, rear parking pad	approved	$                            2,000.00
2010-08	construction of three mobile home sites	approved	$                          20,000.00
2010-09	unattached garage	approved	$                            2,400.00
2010-10	addition to freestanding sign	approved	$                          30,000.00
		2010 TOTAL ESTIMATED VALUE	$                        287,600.00

 

Traditionally, agriculture has been the mainstay of the local economy. More recently, forestry and oil & gas production have been of increasing importance to the area. The area has a moderate soil quality rating for crop production, being mainly Class 3, 4 and 5 Canada Land Inventory. Mixed farming and ranching remain the prevailing agricultural operations.

 

The largest sour gas discovery in Alberta, in the last 20 years was made in the area by Shell Canada in 1986. The development of the Caroline Swan Hills Gas Field, with an estimated 2 trillion cubic foot natural gas field and the many economic spin-offs, has contributed to growth in the area.

Recent developments by West Fraser LVL have also added to the local economy. Historically, numerous sawmills and logging outfits were located in and around Caroline, with many land owners clearing farmland and operating their own lumber mills. Today, area logging is on a much bigger scale, with Caroline seeing many loads of timber being trucked both east and west.
 

Recreation and tourism are becoming increasingly significant to the local economy. Up to 3,500 visitors from across Canada, Switzerland, Holland, the Philippines, Finland, the Ukraine, Germany, Australia and Great Britain registered at the Tourist Information Centre last season. 

Industries Include: Farming and ranching, equine services, bulk fertilizer and feed outlets, veterinary service and supplies, rodeo stock contractors; small business -- auto and farm machinery parts and repairs, accounting and financial service, notary public service, lumber and building materials, gas and garage, hair/beauty and tanning salons, plumbing and heating, drywall and painters, tire sales and repairs, video rentals; retail stores -- grocery, bakery, hardware, sporting goods, camping supplies, gardening centre, florist, convenience and novelty, new and used, liquor outlets; oil & gas spin-off services -- oilfield maintenance services, evacuation and oilfield construction, landscaping, welders, graders and back-hoes, steam and pressure trucks; tourism spin-off services -- hotels, restaurants, bed and breakfast, campgrounds, golf course; trucking and freight -- gravel, logging, oil, water and equipment hauling, courier services; and forestry -- logging contractors, bunchers, fellers, delimbers, and trucking, small sawmills and post peelers.