It’s just the start of the process for the Garibaldi at Squamish resort project, the resort’s proponent stresses.
Following the conditional environmental assessment certificate granted to Garibaldi at Squamish, “we are not rushing anything,” said Jim Chu, vice-president of Aquilini Investment Group, which is behind the all-season resort.
“Our priority now is to listen and learn from the community and of course there are many important stakeholders and we want to make sure the project is done right.”
According to Chu, it could be two years before a formal plan is presented and the company seeks local government approvals.
“When we say that we have a vision, it is not complete.”
Dates haven’t been set for Squamish meetings, but Chu said there will be public events “sooner than later.” Chu said working on the issue of water from Paradise Valley will be the first condition the company tackles.
“On the technical conditions, we will look to the Paradise Valley Community Association to address the water conditions,” he said. “To make sure that what we do works for those residents.”
When it comes to water, the conditions state the company must commit to limiting the flow of groundwater taken from the Paradise Valley aquifer, monitor daily water consumption and the levels of the aquifer, and develop an online tool so the information is public.
The company must also complete a study that determines potential adverse effects from the construction and operation of groundwater pumping could have on the salmon-spawning habitat in the side channels of the Cheakamus River.
The 40 conditions, each with other items attached, run the gamut from technical directions to broad requests.
Chu said the environmental assessment process is a back-and-forth exchange, and therefore, by the time the final certificate announcement was made, there were no surprises in what the company was asked to do.
“We were aware of all of them and we absolutely said we can accept them.”
The conditions also include that the company will provide up to 10 per cent of the resort bed units as employee housing.
The company is also committed to constructing a wastewater treatment plant.
In terms of cumulative effects, a condition requires environmental management plans to address cumulative impacts from construction activities and operation of the project.
Squamish and the Resort Municipality of Whistler councils, along with representatives from the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, wrote letters of opposition to the Environmental Assessment Office prior to the granting of the certificate. Asked how the company will work with local governments as required with several of the conditions given the vocal opposition, Chu said the plan was more about working with communities.
“I think we are going to work with the people,” he said. “There are groups that we are already in contact with and there’s a few groups that we want to meet to talk about the benefits for the community in terms of amenities, recreational opportunities, but also the jobs that this resort will bring.”
Although it is not a condition of the certificate, Chu said the company is committed to making Squamish and area residents a priority for the projected 2,400 direct full-time equivalent jobs from the project.
“We would like to correct some misconceptions out there,” Chu said. “Some people say every job is minimum wage. We’ve got information from similar resorts that show the jobs are well above minimum wage, so we will back up that information with data.”
Several of the conditions refer to collaboration with the Squamish Nation.
Chu calls the Nation “a very important partner.”
Squamish Nation Chief Ian Campbell said the Nation would benefit from a 10 per cent stake in the project, revenue sharing, real estate opportunities, as well as employment and business opportunities.
Consultation with the chiefs and council must also take place in managing wildlife populations including grizzly and black bear populations.
Further, Garibaldi at Squamish must hire an archaeologist or cultural advisor selected by the Nation to monitor the project’s construction activities.
Campbell said he was involved with the project starting back in 2000, when the first vision for a larger project was on the table. With the original resort proposal, the Squamish Nation was able to negotiate an agreement with the proponents and the provincial government. Since the proposal has downsized, the Nation is continuing to assess the benefits package, Campbell said.
“Although we don’t consider ourselves a partner in a true sense of an equity partner or a business partner, we are certainly involved in the project through these mechanisms, through these agreements, in an array of areas that would see the Nation’s participation preconstruction, during construction, post-construction and the ongoing operations and management of this proposal.”
