EDITOR,
In a Chief article May 9, Mayor Kirkham wanted CN to upgrade their maintenance standards due to the estuary's "pristine and unique habitat." What a difference a couple of weeks make! Now, staff have been directed to do a feasibility study on a proposal to pave a huge path through it.
Given what we now know about the value of estuaries and wetlands, and the fact they are decreasing at an alarming rate, I find it surprising that we are once again contemplating building a truck route through the middle of the Squamish Estuary. An estuary is not just the "wet bits," and needs the complete ecosystem to fully function.
Apart from my personal opposition, let's look at the economics. While it is true there is a provision for a transportation corridor in the Wildlife Management Plan (1999), to be explored "if and when" required, I like to think we are 10 years smarter and understand it is no longer a sustainable idea and the time has come to remove the clause once and for all.
There is no easy fix and we need to remember that a designated truck route is essential to the operations of two of our big employers. I just disagree that it should go through the estuary.
Forestry has trucks that need to access the log sort located in the downtown core. This activity is now "inconvenient" due to revitalization and residential development in the downtown core.One solution is to move the log sort to Site B on the other side of the Mamquam Blind, possibly with some financial help, and access it from south of town. The Seventh Avenue connector would not help them access the existing site or Site B.
Squamish Terminals has trucks coming and going as well. If they are going to and from the rail yard, then more efficient usage of the existing rail lines would make sense. If they are taking goods to and from markets, then the link would make more sense south of town towards Vancouver, not heading north. The Seventh Avenue connector is not justified for either of these scenarios.
This proposed transportation corridor is flawed in so many ways. If it doesn't serve the needs of forestry, which has the majority of the truck traffic, and only services Squamish Terminals, then is it worth the huge economic and environmental cost? While a project of that size would require a massive amount of "compensation," it is impossible to compensate fully what you have lost. When it is gone, it is gone for good.
I urge the district to look at the big picture and truly understand the harm this route would do to our estuary. Studies show that road run off is toxic to wetlands, the road is another killer highway for them and the whole project would destroy a large part of the ecosystem needed for its survival. Let's show the world and the tourists who visit our town, that we are forward progressive thinkers with creative solutions... before we lose our greatest asset.
Mary Mitchell
Squamish
