The ever-expanding City of Regina approved a plan to expand even more in the southeast on Monday night.

On Monday, city council voted in favour of a plan to add a 690-hectare (1706-acre) expansion to its official plan.

The areas could eventually be home to 17,500 people.

The new proposed development will be south of Victoria Avenue and northeast of the Greens on Gardiner neighbourhood.

The southeast neighbourhood plan says the area could someday be home to six new residential neighbourhoods, part of the Regina Bypass, a new high school, a commercial centre, an industrial park, and the relocated Pacer ball park.

Right now, it's mostly agricultural land south of Victoria Avenue and northeast of the Greens on Gardiner neighbourhood.

There are 18 landowners on the site, with Dream Development, Long Lake Investment Inc. and the City of Regina the biggest.

The city had previously given its seal of approval to two residential neighbourhoods in the new area: The Towns and Eastbrook.

Long-term concerns

Expanding the city to new neighbourhoods on the edge of the current boundary is part of a long-term plan designed to accommodate a population of 300,000. The full buildup to a population of about 17,500 is expected to take 20 years.

As the southeast population expands, the water supply is emerging as a potential trouble spot.

A city administration report said further development in the southeast will mean "diminishing water system service levels".

It won't be possible to meet water needs "without city-wide improvements," the report added.