Saint John has purchased more than 78 square kilometres of land in an ongoing effort to prevent development that might threaten its supply of drinking water.

Much the land would be classified as prime waterfront property with gorgeous views, mature forests and enviable privacy.

For more than a century, Saint John has been buying up properties around the lakes on either side of the city to shield the water supply from development.

Brian Irving, who works in the city's real estate office, points to a map to Saint John's latest purchase, a 58-hectare property in Damascas, which is outside the city's boundary.

The city is paying $125,000 for the property as well as exchanging 36 acres of land in a less sensitive area with the owner.

That latest purchase is sparking a concern by at least one city councillor, who is frustrated by the addition of more protected land when that task of protecting watersheds should be a top priority for the provincial government.

Stronger provincial action needed

Coun. Bill Farren said he understands the need to protect the water supply, but he questions how much more land should be purchased.

"Unfortunately, the provincial legislation only covers 75 metres from the water's edge. That doesn't really cut the mustard on any of this. Pollutants can travel quite a distance," Farren said.

The city councillor asked that the sale of the property be put on the council's main agenda on Monday night.

In a time when the city is being forced to make many tough budget decisions, Farren said the price may be too high.

Farren said he would like to see the province widen the 75-metre buffer zone next to lakes and streams around the water supply to ease the burden on the city.

Although he said Saint John is a proud owner of this property, Farren said there will soon come a time when the city will own too much property.

"There is a point of extreme and that is one of my concerns. I think we are pretty near that point of extreme," he said.

Along with paying for the additional property, any of the land Saint John acquires that is outside of its jurisdiction, it must pay property tax from that municipality.

And even on the land it owns within its boundaries, the city must pay the provincial portion of property tax on that protected property.

'Significant restrictions'

Paul Wilson, manager of water section in Department of Environment, said the rules as they stand are working and there are no plans at this time to enlarge the protected zone.

"We feel there are significant restrictions in place and we do regulate what activities are allowed to occur in certain areas of the watershed," Wilson said.

There are also Saint John officials who have the authority to go in and test water throughout the watershed, even on private property.

Wilson said the data that has come back from those tests shows the water is safe.

Future steps

The city is starting this year to take aerial photographs above the Loch Lomond Lake area and next year there will be aerial photographs taken near Spruce Lake.

Those photos will be used to spot any development or illegal forestation near the watershed.

The 78 square kilometres owned by the city includes 13 square kilometres of property that is outside the watershed and the city doesn't need it.

Council has instructed the real estate department to sell that property and use any money collected to purchase more sensitive land instead of drawing it out of the city's main coffers.