The following is an edited version of a letter sent to Premier Christy Clark, Minister of Environment Terry Lake, Chief Ian Campbell, Squamish Mayor Rob Kirkham, SLRD Chair Susan Gimse and Sea to Sky Gondola Corp. It was copied to The Chief for publication.
Re: Stawamus Chief and Shannon Falls Provincial Parks Proposed Gondola
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposal by Sea to Sky Gondola Corp. to build a gondola in and through Stawamus Chief and Shannon Falls provincial parks, or in the near vicinity of those parks. I also oppose the removal or rezoning of any land from either of those parks for such a purpose, or the granting of any sort of licence to build a gondola. The development would be contrary to the Park Act, and to the public interest.
The reasons that the proposal should not be permitted:
It would slash a significant amount of land from the centre of heavily used, well-established Class A provincial parks. What is the point of parks, if they're not protected? It would also be a risky precedent in an area where there is already tremendous pressure on provincial parks. There is nothing in the Park Act or the master plan for either park that even hints at the possibility of such a development being acceptable, nor has there been an independent review by B.C. Parks, or public meetings conducted by it in Squamish, Vancouver and perhaps elsewhere.
The Stawamus Chief (Siyám Smánit) and area has outstanding natural, scenic and recreational values. The parks are well-established, with hundreds of thousands of annual user-days, and make a huge contribution to the culture and economy of Squamish. The priority should be protecting those values, rather than cramming in other developments.
There would be substantial visual, noise and tree-removal impacts on the parks. Existing users (hikers, climbers, campers, tourist viewers) would be significantly affected. The impacts would likely be much greater than is claimed, and the benefits less.
There appears to be a better location close by. A gondola to Goat Ridge, a few kilometres south, could be based either in the established tourist centre of Britannia, or perhaps off Highway 99 a few km north of Murrin Park. It would have better views, more room, still give access to the upper Shannon Creek basin, offer better recreational opportunities, spread out development in the Squamish area, and not conflict with existing users or values, or the parks. It may also fit better with the developer's long-term plans, and allow room to grow.
I helped lead the successful, united opposition to the proposed gondola in 2004. After it was defeated, the gravel pit between the Chief and Shannon Falls was purchased, to ensure it was never again threatened with inappropriate development. Unfortunately, that wasn't the result. Whatever went wrong, the provincial government can still do the right thing, which is to purchase the gravel pit and add it to the two parks.
Should the governments allow the proposal to proceed, ironclad conditions should be required of the developer. Examples include transparency and full disclosure, paying a fair price for any land, performance of any vague, rosy promises of the sort that developers often make, and a substantial bond - if any development fails, who will otherwise pay for cleaning up the mess?
The Stawamus Chief and area is an international climbing destination, and must be protected and managed as such. This isn't the first inappropriate development proposed for the area, and may not be the last - particularly if it were to be approved.
Anders I. Ourom
Vancouver
