British Columbia Assets & Land Corporation

Transcription

1 British Columbia Assets & Land Corporation An agency of the government of British Columbia Reference: 2461 tuuu June Binkert President Save Our Parkland Association PO Box Pt. Grey RPO Vancouver BC V6R 4P1 Dear June Binkert: I am responding to your letter of October 5, 2000, to The Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh, regarding the Environmental Assessment (EA) certification of the Melvin Creek/Cayoosh Resort proposal. I appreciate you bringing the concerns of your organization to our attention regarding this announcement, and would like to take this opportunity to present some of the key points behind this decision. This proposal has undergone an extremely comprehensive review that examined all environmental, economic, social, cultural, heritage, health and safety concerns. The review indicates the resort can be constructed and operated in a manner which will promote sustainability by protecting the environment, fostering a sound economy and social well-being and be consistent with government's objectives. The Environmental Assessment Project Committee was unanimous in recommending certification, subject to strict terms and conditions designed to ensure all issues are fully addressed and impacts are minimized. The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (MELP) has never rejected the Melvin Creek/Cayoosh Mountain Ski Resort proposal. Rather, by participating in an extensive review of the project, MELP has identified a number of environmental issues, all of which NGR Resort Consultants Inc. has agreed to address. Government will closely monitor the resort development through planning, construction and operation phases to ensure compliance with the substantial conditions outlined in the EA certificate. The EA review process included extensive input from key stakeholders including local communities, First Nations and environmental groups. Invitations to participate on the project committee were extended to potentially affected First Nations. Although these invitations were declined, First Nations involvement in the review of the project was achieved by:...12 Corporate Office: 5th Floor Broughlon Street Victoria BC Tel (250) Far (250) Mailing Address: PO BOX 9475 STN PROV GOVT VICTORIA BC V8W 9W6 Website: unvw.beat.be.ca

2 -2- holding meetings between First Nations, government staff and the proponent to discuss First Nations issues; providing First Nations with the opportunity to review and comment on key documentation produced for the review process, including the application and project report, and drafts of the Committee Report; providing First Nations with extensive funding to undertake their own traditional use studies and technical reviews of socio-economic, wildlife and infrastructure matters of particular interest to them; and the project committee responding, in a June 9, 2000 report, to First Nations studies. Issues and concerns of potentially affected First Nations, including not only cultural and heritage effects, but also economic, social, health and environmental effects, were duly considered by the project committee. Based on information generated through First Nations involvement in the project review, including studies, First Nations comments and responses, inter-agency comments, and discussions with First Nations, it would not appear that aboriginal interests asserted with respect to Melvin Creek valley would be unjustifiably interfered with by the project. You raised specific concern with the land-use decision and need for more action to protect British Columbia's natural heritage. This government has been, and will continue to be, committed to preserving our natural heritage in British Columbia. Your organization will know that shortly after 1990, potential parks and wilderness areas were identified, and the Parks and Wilderness for the Nineties initiative was adopted. In 1993, government approved A Protected Areas Strategy, which established the policies and procedures needed to double the amount of protected areas in British Columbia from 6 to 12 percent by the year In conjunction with this, work began on land-use plans (regional plans and sub-regional Land and Resource Management Plans) which included recommendations on protected areas. The Forest Practices Code was also established to ensure sustainable use of forested lands and watersheds across the Crown land base. Locally, the Lillooet Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) process will be making recommendations to government. These will take into account concerns similar to those you have raised relating to on-going pressures for new land developments and the need to consider potential impacts to the Duffey Lake corridor and adjacent drainages. In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding covering a significant area surrounding the Melvin and Cayoosh Creek drainages, was signed between the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Ministry of Forests and British Columbia Assets and Land Corporation. This agreement will deal with the assessment of accumulative impacts of any future road access developments as well as new proposals for public and commercial recreation development on grizzly bears and their habitat. Such land-use planning must also include the opportunity for sustainable economic activity. This will be the first new major destination ski resort developed in

3 -3- British Columbia in over 20 years. The resort will create more than 20,000 person years of employment over the next 14 years, providing a variety of related economic opportunities for local communities. Completion of the land-use and project plans will provide British Columbia with a viable development option needed to address the economic transition rural and First Nations communities are facing. I would like to point out that EA certification is just one of the steps required before the Cayoosh resort development commences. The project will also be required to develop a ski area master plan under the Commercial Alpine Ski Policy in keeping with requirements of other ski developments in British Columbia. Additional requirements include subsequent permits and licenses necessary for resort construction and operation, both at the provincial and local government levels. British Columbia Assets and Land Corporation (BCAL) leads the provincial ski area review and approval processes to ensure an orderly and planned development of ski resorts. The corporation will provide suitable Crown land for ski development where it is deemed in the public interest and meets the requirements of other provincial agencies. In doing this, there is a commitment to minimize environmental conflicts and ensure sustainable use of Crown land. BCAL also operates on the principle of providing a fair revenue return to the Crown for use of public land. BCAL will establish an Interagency Technical Committee to co-ordinate the upcoming Cayoosh Resort ski area master planning and related permitting processes, including on-going monitoring and reporting on the development's compliance with EA certificate conditions. There will be continued opportunities for public and First Nation's input during these next steps. If you have any additional questions about this project or the upcoming planning program please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours truly Cas: ie J. Doyle Pres dent\and Chie(f Executive Officer pc: The Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh Premier The Honourable Ed Conroy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries The Honourable Ian Waddell Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks The Honourable Tim Stevenson Minister of Employment and Investment

4 SAVE OUR PARK cation P.O.BOX 3V028, PT. GREY R.P.O., VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA V6R 4P1 The Hon. Ujjal Dosanjh, Premier Parliament Buildings Victoria, B.C., V8V 1X4 5 October 2000 Dear Premier Dosanjh Melvin Creek/Cayoosh Mountain Ski Resort I am writing on behalf of Save Our Parkland Association (SOPA) to express our opposition to the Melvin Creek/Cayoosh Mountain Ski Resort. Save Our Parkland Association has, in the past, and will continue, in the future, to dedicate itself to the acquisition and preservation of parkland, open space and protected areas throughout the Province of B.C., with a primary focus on the Lower Mainland and surrounding areas. Since its establishment in 1963, Directors of SOPA have met on a monthly basis to discuss these issues, and at our last meeting on 18 September it was agreed that a letter should be sent to you, expressing our considerations on the matter of the Melvin Creek/Cayoosh Mountain Ski. Resort. Over the past 12 months, we have sent the following letters concerning this proposed resort: 19 Oct to the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office re: local environmental impacts, and the need to evaluate the proposal in the context of an overall ski resort study for the Province. 5 Jan to the Hon. Joan Sawicki re: insufficient appreciation of the sensitivity of alpine and sub-alpine environments to the effects of both winter and summer activities, and the need for marketing studies. 8 Jan to the Hon. Ian Waddell re: the same considerations as to the Hon. Joan Sawicki. cont.

5 -2-3 March 2000 to you and Members of Cabinet re: direct and indirect impacts on wildlife; impacts on the Greater Cayoosh Valley and on Highway 99 between Mt. Currie and Cayoosh Pass; impacts on existing and potential future ski resorts; stressing that "Highway 99 is an increasingly rare attraction just the way it is - it should not be regarded simply as a resource waiting to be developed". SOPA recognizes that Cabinet has given initial approval to the proposed ski resort, based on a desire to have arrangements made which are satisfactory to First Nations1 interests, and that the environmental assessment which was prepared by the Melvin Creek/ Cayoosh Project Committee (30 June 2000) has been accepted. Both of these conclusions qive us concern. First, it is not clear to the general public how the assessment of First Nations'interests will be measured, nor how these will be accounted for publically. Second, we have had an opportunity to consider the environmental assessment of this project, and we have some grave concerns about the analysis, which appears to us to be more of an implementation review than a feasibility assessment. We note that there are 29 pages of "commitments" that NCR Resort Consultants Inc. has agreed to, totalling 423 individual issues. We also note that in 1993 the Ministry of Environment's own scientists rejected this proposal. It is obvious that there are very serious environmental impacts involved in developing this resort in such a remote and pristine area, and we are apprehensive that the environmental assessment is too limited in its considerations, particularly with regard to the broader ramifications on the whole corridor-. A development such as that being proposed by NCR Resort Consultants Inc. will inevitably mean further land development and increased commercial business aspirations, leading to ever more human intrusions and widening impacts on wildlife and the environment. It is our opinion that if the Duffey Lake corridor is left as it is now, without profit-driven development, it will become known as one of the most scenic drives in the entire Province, comparable to (perhaps even better than) the Banff-Jasper Highway in Alberta. Surely this has greater, ongoing value to the people of B.C. and Canada (including those in Lillooet and Pemberton). We are aware o.f the need to consider economic opportunities and jobs but we think that the future lies, not with mega ski developments but with thoughtful and sustainable eco-tourism. And this type of activity fits in much more acceptably with the skills, experience and knowledge of the First Nations people than hotels, residential development, ski hills and golf courses. cont.

6 3 Finally, SOPA wishes to express its concern about the decisionmakina process for such a significant land use judgement. We worry about the assessment of such a project, bearing in mind the interests of the various government ministries involved. For example, the B.C. Assets & Lands Corporation has a mandate to maximize returns on government-owned lands. As well, the consideration of First Nations' interests is not clear. It is important for the public to know who will be undertaking an armslength analysis of this proposal so that there is an assurance that the final decision as to the future of this a.rea is made in the best interests of the public. As a non-government, volunteer Board, made up of citizens of long experience in these matters, SOPA is offering you and your Government its views on this proposal. We do not think that it is in the best interests of the people of B.C., and we urge you to rethink your decision and to put the proposal into the much wider context of the preservation of B.C.'s unique natural assets, rather than allowing developments such as the Melvin Creek/Cayoosh Mountain Ski Resort to grow up in a topsyturvey manner, with all the implications that would have for the Province's taxpayers and the local communities in the way of future viability, maintenance of infra-structure, etc. We thank you for your consideration of our concerns, and we look forward to being informed in as much detail as possible about the actions of your Government on this issue. Yours sincerely Jiine Binkert President c.c. The Hon. Joan Sawicki, Environment, Lands & Parks The Hon. Gordon Wilson, Employment & Investment The Hon. Corky Day, B.C. Assets & Lands Corporation The Hon. Gordon Campbell, Leader of the Opposition The Rt. Hon. Jean Chretien, Prime Minister The Hon. David Anderson, Environment The Hon. Herb Dhaliwal, Fisheries & Oceans