The proponent behind the Garibaldi at Squamish four-season resort said the company is doing all it can to have the provincial environmental assessment process started again after its suspension by the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) last week.
"We're all at Garibaldi at Squamish anxious to get the process officially started again," said project CEO Mike Esler. "It probably shouldn't have happened in the first place, put it that way."
But before Garibaldi at Squamish can answer EAO concerns, they must receive a written tally of information gaps.EAO project lead Graeme McLaren said he's still getting that document together, but added primary concerns revolve around water.
"There's a bunch of gaps that have been identified," said McLaren. "Water is the biggest issue. Water supply, water demand, where's that coming from?"
Other issues include Aboriginal impact and use studies, said McLaren.Esler said the company has made some significant headway on those issues, and must now await a response.
"For example water we're still dealing with [with] the Ministry of Environment and the Department of Fisheries," he said. "So we're just waiting for the feedback to our latest information we gave.
"Two First Nations related studies are to be completed within a matter of days. One is called Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the other one is called the Archeological Impact Study. Both are nearing completion."
Issues that were raised by the District of Squamish - such as increased costs to the municipality and crime rate - don't fall within the EAO process, said Esler, and shouldn't merit its suspension. In the meantime, Esler said development representatives are still meeting with community stakeholders - most recently with back country skiing groups on Tuesday (Sept. 25) and while sponsoring the Chamber of Commerce After 5 event Wednesday (Sept. 26).
"No one's dropped the tools," he said, "there's still lots of meetings going on and we're still getting further information everybody's requested together."
Esler said the company has already responded to the 270 comments posted on the EAO website and is preparing to respond more.
