Expanding the industrial park continues to be a priority for the town of Altona.

A number of lots have been purchased over the last year leaving just a handful remaining.

Mayor Al Friesen says negotiations with a local landowner are ongoing and he's optimistic an agreement can be finalized.

Friesen admits, with so few lots remaining, there's some urgency to get a deal done soon.

"It takes some time and some process in order to turn farmland or raw land into serviced lots, whether it's the regulatory or financial arrangements, there is certainly a process involved which is why there is some pressure to make sure that we address those concerns and move ahead."

The need to expand the industrial park has been an issue for the town for some years, but very little progress has been made which has left the community with about four lots to offer prospective companies. That situation has the potential to stifle industrial expansion in the town.

Friesen says town council is focused on getting a deal completed but these things take some time to work through.

"We are actively working on this. There were a number of things on our overall To-Do-List when this council came in. Main Street was one, the (Bunge Canada) soap stock issue was another, the drainage situation downtown and in the southwest corner and the industrial park. We have worked on all of those, some more successfully than others."