A ruckus over rights-of-way access to the Cattermole Pond and nearby trails along surrounding dykes downtown has resulted in temporary signage and fencing being torn down by irate walkers, and has the developer of the nearby Skye complex worrying that members of the public could be injured if they don't heed the warnings to stay out.
Thomas Ivanore, a managing partner of POV- the firm that developed the 162 apartments and 64 townhomes project on Third Avenue, said that areas around the pond and sections of the trails had been owned by his company for the past three and a half years, contrary to what some members of the public believe.
Ivanore said that his company was in the middle of draining and cleaning up the pond and shoring up the dykes to provide greater protection to the Downtown area.
"Cattermole Pond is down to zero now. It is a holding tank for storm water for the district and we have been taking away contaminants," he said. "Presently it doesn't support any life. There are old grocery carts and that is all being cleaned out."
Part of the problem, he added, has been a lack of information.
"No one really knew that the dyke was closed. People can't go across when we are working. There are builders up there daily."Ivanore said the closures were temporary and that ultimately the community would benefit greatly from their patience - in the form of renewed public space.
"We are giving back all the pond and the perimetre of the pond to the District," he said. "It's good for the District and good for developers. By fixing it we can create and environment that will be good for all."
He added that the work, which started in September, will be complete by March 2007.
Mike Gottardi, the District of Squamish's director of engineering, said a previously agreed landswap will make the public usage of the renewed areas possible.
"It's a land exchange. As a sea dyke, the District has right of entry in order to ensure its maintenance. But there was not right of entry [to the public] as it was not a walkway, though it has been used this way forever. This is the benefit."
Gottardi said he understood that some of the trails would be reopened as early as four to eight weeks from now.
