Editor's note: This is a letter to the chair and directors of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. It was copied to The Chief for publication.
What is the Sea to Sky Gondola and why are so many people excited about it?
There have already been questions raised about violation of a covenant placed on the land next to Highway 99, where the base of the gondola is to be located. There have been many concerns raised about the environmental impact. There has been protest at the social and political implications of reclassifying part of a small, busy provincial park for commercial purposes.
There seem to be very few people concerned with what will actually be constructed at the top. The following is from the Sea to Sky Gondola website. "Phase 2 of the Sea to Sky Gondola project will be designed to accommodate future visitation and deliver additional experiences." What does that mean?
In Business in Vancouver, Trevor Dunn says that he is modelling the gondola on the sightseeing gondola in Banff. After a bit of research about the Banff Gondola, here is what I found.
Banff has been one of Canada's major tourist attractions since the year before British Columbia became a province. Banff National Park has more tourists each year than the entire population of British Columbia. The Banff Gondola has only half the capacity of the proposal in Squamish. It would take six years for Banff to receive the amount of precipitation that Squamish receives in one year.
I truly do understand why people will want to travel to the top on clear, sunny days. My question is: What is going to be up there to make people want to pay when it is rainy, snowy, windy or when forest-fire warnings prevent travel in the backcountry? What will be the attraction at the top on the many days each year when there is no view?
Why are plans for the mountaintop being kept so vague and secretive during these initial stages? Would there be stronger opposition to bisecting Stawamus Chief Provincial Park if we knew what the big attraction would be? Would there be less support if we understood why people will pay to get to the top on a rainy or snowy day?
I believe that there are many questions that still to be asked and answered before this project proceeds.
Murray Gamble
Squamish
