Login / RegisterSquamish residents speak out against Sea to Sky Gondola proposal
Sea to Sky Gondola Corporation says support for its plans to build a sightseeing gondola near the Stawamus Chief is “growing steadily”.
But some Squamish residents are making it known that opposition to the company’s application to change the boundaries of Stawamus Chief Provincial Park does exist in their community.
Sean Easton and Derek Alexander Christ are two of the project’s local critics. Both climbers, they are organizers of Friends of the Squamish Chief, an ad hoc group that recently formed to fight the gondola project and its proposal to remove a 2.36-hectare strip of land from the Chief park.
A mountain guide who lives in Squamish’s Valleycliffe neighbourhood, Easton was part of a volunteer group of climbers that helped B.C Parks develop the rock-climbing strategy for the Chief, Shannon Falls, and Murrin provincial parks in the late 1990s. From the back deck of his home, he can look up at the Sheriff’s Badge and North Walls of the Chief.
On the phone from Whistler, Easton noted that the Chief park was established 15 years ago next to the older Shannon Falls park.
“It’s my impression that when you make a park you’re trying to save an area from commercial and industrial infrastructure,” Easton told the Georgia Straight. “So to propose that a mechanical transport system be built right through the centre of these two parks is a significant concern.”
FOSC is calling on B.C. Parks to hold a public hearing on the park-boundary-adjustment proposal, which requires the approval of the environment minister, cabinet, and the legislature. This week, B.C. Parks posted a notice of the application on the Chief park’s website, directing visitors to Sea to Sky’s site for further information.
B.C. Parks is relying on Sea to Sky to consult stakeholders about the project. Sea to Sky added information about the boundary-adjustment proposal to its website on March 15, the same day the Straight reported the company had applied in December to remove land from the Chief park. On April 5, Sea to Sky principal David Greenfield told the Straight that B.C. Parks staff have recommended approval of the park amendment.
“Without some measure of public participation, public consultation, especially in light of the importance of that ecological, natural asset—the Chief—to the Lower Mainland, I can’t believe that they [B.C. Parks] would contemplate a process that doesn’t involve the broader public or Squamish residents,” FOSC's Christ, a lawyer who also resides in Valleycliffe, told the Straight by phone from Vancouver. “It just makes no sense. They’re really trying to squeak it in under the radar, as it were.”
While the Sea to Sky Gondola would run through the Chief park—though not up the Chief itself—both its planned lower and upper terminals lie outside the park. The base property is located along the Sea-to-Sky Highway between the Chief and Shannon Falls, and the top would sit on Crown land on the wooded ridge northwest of Mount Habrich.
District of Squamish council has already approved the rezoning for the base property, and the project has been endorsed by the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association, Tourism Squamish, and Squamish Trails Society.
“To date, the positive encouragement and support of the project has been growing steadily,” Sea to Sky’s Stage 2 park-adjustment application, dated February 15, states. “The proponents have strong indications from all levels of the BC Government that this is a project of particular interest.”
On March 26, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District board of directors gave second reading to rezoning and official-community-plan-amendment bylaws needed for the gondola’s upper terminal. FOSC organizers plan to speak at the SLRD’s public hearing on the proposed changes, which is scheduled to take place at the Britannia Beach Community Centre on Thursday (April 19), starting at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, Brian Vincent, another Squamish resident, is raising concerns about the gondola project’s potential impact on wildlife. On April 12, the animal-rights activist sent a letter to B.C. premier Christy Clark, SLRD chair Susan Gimse, and several other politicians urging them to oppose the “ill-conceived” proposal.
“Opening up backcountry areas to a flood of visitors will undoubtedly create conflicts between humans and wildlife,” Vincent wrote. “Unfortunately, bears and cougars usually pay a fatal price in such circumstances.”
In its park-adjustment application, Sea to Sky predicts the negative environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the gondola will be “largely moderate and short term”.
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Other than Brian Vincent's concerns for wildlife most of the opposition seems to be from people that want to keep this area for themselves and exclude those who are somehow not worthy of it. I have heard that if you can't get up to this area under your own steam you shouldn't be allowed here. This area is riddled with old logging roads. It is already accessed by bikes, both motorised and pedal. In the winter it is accessed by snowmobilers. I have spent much of my life hiking the mountains around Squamish. I am reaching an age where at some point in the future I won't be able to do this anymore. The gondola will allow me to continue, albeit in a limited fashion, to access the backcountry as I age. It will allow city residents who can't or for whatever reason don't want to spend the time to hike into the mountains to experience a little bit of the splendour of nature. I say a little bit because as beautiful as this area is it is not currently in it's natural state. It was clear cut within living memory. It has already been deeply impacted by human endeavor. What better place is there to teach our children about the wonders of nature than in a semi-natural environment? In order to protect the large areas of wilderness that need to be set aside to truly protect BC's backcountry we have to have some areas where people are allowed. I believe this area which has already been impacted and is near a large urban area is perfect for this.
Another consideration is the economic impact this will have on Squamish and the surrounding communities. These communities have been hard hit by economic change. Unemployment is very high. Like many municipalities the infrastructure is crumbling but the industrial and commercial tax base that previously funded a lot of the infrastructure has disappeared. Most residents of Squamish do not want to return to an industrial, resource based economy. We are looking for ways to create a sustainable economy with minimal impact on the environment. Projects like the Sea to Sky Gondola will help us regain a needed commercial tax base while helping to avoid a return to an industrial, resource based economy.
Everyone attending will be allowed to speak if they want to and this is your only opportunity to go on public record to show support or opposition, unless we can demand BC Parks host a public hearing.
For more information on why some feel this project shouldn't happen and info on where you can also send letters, visit www.friendsofthesquamishchief.wordpress.com
BC Parks website (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/planning/bound_adj_policy.html )
states:
“Periodically, within provincial parks, land uses are proposed involving activities that are not permissible under the Park Act. The Minister of Environment will consider such proposals where the public interest may warrant modifying park boundaries to REMOVE THE AFFECTED AREA from the park.”
BC Parks own guidelines state they should be offering a public hearing to address these boundary changes but they have waived a public hearing for this project, a decision that might fortell a disturbing trend to bypass public input on decisions affecting public lands. You can write Minister Terry Lake to request a hearing at env.minister@gov.bc.ca.
Also, what pressure would mountain bikers exert toward the creation of new bike trails--which would only increase the impact on the immediate environment?
Personally, I am not in favor of a gondola being built at the proposed location of the gravel pit at Squamish. I wonder if Anders Ourom's suggestion of an alternate location--that of Goat Ridge, originating from Britannia--is catching any wind at this time? Britannia could certainly use a shot in the arm, and it seems to me that such an attraction would be more appropriate there.
Good luck, everyone.
Can some one tell me what incentive the developer would have to ruin the natural amenities from which the success of this venture now and into the future will reside...?
Further to that - protecting wildlife, flora and fauna is in the best interests of the developer, as is future park expansion that would protect the area for their and the public's wider interests.
Will they ever intervene to break up fights that occur as frustrated hikers blow their cool waiting to ascend or descend parts of the trail? Yes, this happens!
Will they assist Search and Rescue teams as they stretcher off novice hikers who have fallen (while descending) every weekend during the summer months?
Do they monitor how wide the chief trail is now and how impacted the area is becoming?
If so what are they doing about these issues...?
The Sea to Sky Gondola will ultimately reduce the pressure on the chief, by giving novice hikers more choices and spreading out the load, significantly reduce over crowding.
As I have mentioned repeatedly I don't understand why people think that the Gondola are going to allow degradation of the area and show insensitivity to flora and fauna. Their success is vested in ensuring the areas wilderness values are protected and enhanced. Bringing people to the area to ride, hike, climb and enjoy the outdoors creates value. That value can then be used to expand current park boundaries and protect a much greater area forever!
Ask a bear what they prefer? Dirt biker? Sledders? Logging? Or a group of school kids learning about forest regeneration...?
Further, I want to point out that incorrect information was presented at the meeting yesterday regarding the removal of trees for the gondola. Its not 30 trees, its 30 trees greater than 70 cm. The proponents on submission to BC Parks states:
"The BC Safety Authority will require the removal of trees along the gondola right of way, primarily for technical clearance, safety and lift evacuation purposes. Approximately 30 of those trees are veteran trees greater than 70 cm in diametre at breast height. The remainder of the trees cut will be smaller, less significant trees. The estimated volume of wood to be cut its between 364-597 cubic meters"
Also ommitted in the presentation by the proponents was the estimated job gains of 30-80 jobs being an estimate for gains over 10 years. As well, the proponents have stated previously that their intent is to run the gondola seasonally until it becomes feasible to run it year round; new jobs would then be only in the summer.
Anyone wanting more detailed information on the proposal may want to review the BC Parks submission - the proponents can provide it on request. www.seatoskygondola.com.
If you would like to encourage BC Parks to offer a public hearing on changes to Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, you can write the Environment Minister Terry Lake at env.minister@gov.bc.ca
If you have concerns, a BC Parks Public Hearing will be the only chance to have a say in the decision making process as SLRD submissions are now closed.
People, liking a facebook page or writing comments here is not enough- speaking at public hearings and writing letters direct to decision makers is a vote for what you believe in and is the only thing that will influence decision makers. Please write or phone the Ministry of Environment if you have not yet.