Provincial legislation that would strip local governments from deciding on rezoning issues for Independent Power Production (IPP) is "a step backwards," says Stuart Smith of the Whitewater Kayaking Association of British Columbia (WKABC).
Once the proposed legislation passed its first reading, local stakeholders immediately identified Bill 30 as a means of pushing through an Ashlu River IPP proposed by Ledcor. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) rejected Ledcor's rezoning application last January, but the issue is expected to come forward again if the new legislation passes.
This goes against the clear wishes of local stakeholders who have fought for years to save the Ashlu's world-class whitewater kayaking, said Smith.
"Volunteers, whether it's the local residents or heaven forbid even the local government, have spent thousands and thousands and thousand of dollars on this," he said. "Clearly people didn't really want it. The fact that it's being shoved forward again is pretty disturbing."
Smith also said the legislation is "odd" since it would go completely against the province's own planning process.
"It's a bit of a step backwards from a lot of the work that's been done in this area," he said. "The Sea to Sky LRMP, even the watered-down version of the LRMP posted on the provincial website, even that one recommends working with local government and local stakeholders groups in the energy project approval process."
Government officials and representatives of the independent power industry said the legislation was aimed at providing greater certainty to IPP proponents, investors and governments "through a one-decision-maker process similar to most other resource development approvals," according to the government's initial statement issued April 27.
The reasons for the recognized importance of the Ashlu are many, according to Smith. Water quality, long length of season, water volume, on-river surroundings, high number of instream features, number of bedrock outcrops, esthetics, plus many more difficult to define characteristics attract a large number of whitewater enthusiasts every year.
Smith said he isn't surprised that independent power proponents are pushing the province, but is disappointed the province yielded to their interests.
"That's disappointing," he said. "I don't know that it was totally unexpected that something like this would happen because certainly some of the industry people involved in the IPPBC have been pushing this way for a long time."
The WKABC has joined a coalition that includes Upper Squamish Valley residents, the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) and numerous other stakeholders involved in the IPP process to get real information on the Ashlu IPP proposal.
"One of the problems has been the battle to provide real information not propaganda," said Smith. "We've been asking the provincial government probably on a weekly basis for this information since January and they've yet to provide us with all the information on all the projects. We want to know how big they are, where the transition is proposed all those sorts of things. Right now you can't find that information anywhere. So local governments, those who want to know about those projects cannot get that information."
A June 2004 WKABC report states that Ledcor has attempted to "downplay the real impacts of their project."
It states there are numerous areas "where inaccurate information has been presented as facts, and where unsubstantiated information has been put forward as concrete, including impacts to the paddling community, the flow levels for paddling, the input supposedly gathered by the proponent and the access benefits which are promoted to occur due to the project."
On their website, Ledcor states the Ashlu IPP impact will not be as dire as some stakeholders suggest.
"Contrary to popular belief, the Ashlu Creek project impacts are negligible with no dam construction and less than 3 km of new transmission corridor required," states the website. "This corridor will traverse along the existing logging road and connect to the BC Hydro power line."
Ledcor also states there will be no impact upon kayaking on the upper 24 km of the Ashlu before the intake structure. Along the diversion portion of the creek flows will be decreased to "desired" levels during spring run-off and flows will be increased on the weekends of the shoulder seasons.
"In early May, late August and throughout September, water will be released on weekends to provide kayakers with desired water levels for the lower runs," states the website.
Benefits will also be of extreme value to Squamish, states the website.
"It is estimated that $10 million will be spent on local shops, services, sub-contractors, and workers over the project construction period," it states. "To ensure maximum benefit from the Ashlu project to the community, as many local suppliers and contractors will be used as possible. Most of the labour force will be hired locally and the project staff will be living within the Squamish community. Local hires include any requirement for electrical, mechanical and construction trade skills, which former Woodfibre employees possess."
The District of Squamish nonetheless voted to oppose the Ashlu IPP in fall of 2004 and a motion is expected to come before council this coming Tuesday (May 16) to reiterate the district's opposition to the proposal.
