I watched with surprise over the past few weeks at all the "breaking news" about how a proposed gondola is going to split up Stawamus Chief Provincial Park.
The developing story was all over national newspapers, on the radio and even led the CBC Vancouver newscast one day.
It's too bad all these major media outlets haven't been following The Chief.
Like almost anything that's about to be built in Squamish, the entire process for the gondola has been moving at a glacial pace and the folks at GroundEffects Developments Inc. have been doing all the right things as far as public consultation goes. From the start of the project, they've also been going through all the proper avenues with the District of Squamish (DOS).
The entire concept was launched last July and after several open houses it became clear that the vast majority of Squamish residents supported the idea. Just take a look at The Chief's latest online poll in which over 70 per cent of respondents want the project to go ahead.
Back in November, 48 people spoke in favour of the gondola at a public hearing and it was at that meeting that the Squamish Nation chief, council and elders all gave the project the thumbs up. The DOS approved the application for the gondola's base area rezoning on Feb. 7, and on Feb. 27 the SLRD passed first reading on re-zoning for the gondola's upper terminus.
So, what's the problem?
Well, apparently people in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland don't want to see their weekend wilderness getaway changed in any way. It doesn't matter that gondola officials have had more than 80 public meetings and have even changed their plans to accommodate climbers -this type of intrusion onto nature is just never going to be acceptable.
What about the positive impacts that the gondola will have on Squamish? Jobs, money and tourists are three things that come to mind. Above all else, it gives Squamish residents something to do. A project like this will only benefit Squamish and make people actually stay in town rather than hike the Stawamus Chief, turn around and head back up the highway.
It's also a clever project when you think about a large part of the travelling public that Squamish has largely ignored - seniors. They already outnumber young people at a high rate and it's only going to sway in that direction even more as time goes on.
Not everyone has a bike, enjoys hiking or rock climbs. The gondola is the perfect opportunity to bring those people to Squamish and allow them to experience everything our community has to offer. Maybe even partner up with the West Coast Railway Heritage Park or the Britannia Mine Museum to promote other fun recreational activities available in the area.
This is a project that will impact Squamish, benefit Squamish and create opportunities for Squamish. So why should we care what Lower Mainland residents have to say about it?
