The new year is here and it’s time to make some predictions about the trajectory of three perennial headline-grabbing local ventures.
Let’s start with the Woodfibre LNG (liquefied natural gas) proposed plant, which cleared its first regulatory hurdle in October, when it was granted an environmental assessment certificate by the B.C. government. Despite the persistent protestations of the anti-WLNG lobby and some members of council, I predict the project will be underway before year’s end once the prerequisite permits are issued by various levels of government.
And I believe in 2016, spades will finally break ground on the former Nexen lands, a.k.a the Squamish Oceanfront Development. That occasion will be marked with speeches and photo ops for municipal officials and other luminaries. In time, the venue will take its place alongside the Sea to Sky Gondola as a major tourist attraction and source of pride for the community.
Farther up the road, the perpetually fizzled launch of the Aquilini Investment Group-backed Garibaldi at Squamish four-season resort will inch closer to lift-off. Former Vancouver head cop Jim Chu, who is now the vice-president of special projects and partnerships for Aquilini, says, “Our willingness to work with the Paradise Valley Community Association has resulted in a good plan for water access, conservation and monitoring that works for all stakeholders.”
The provincial ministers in charge are in the process of mulling over the environmental assessment for the resort. By the end of this month, I predict they will give the proponents the go-ahead to move to the resort master development plan stage.
The mega project fits right into the provincial government’s vision statement “to develop British Columbia as a world-class, all-season resort destination.” It is no secret that the expansion of the tourism sector is high on the priority list for the powers-that-be in Victoria. In 2013, that industry contributed $7.3 billion of value added to the BC economy and generated $13.9 billion in revenue.
But not all development proposals are created equal. The Jumbo Glacier year-round ski resort, just west of Invermere, has sparked fierce and unrelenting opposition. Last June, Jumbo’s environmental certificate was revoked because, according to B.C. Environment Minister Mary Polak, the project had not been “substantially started” in the 10 years since the certificate had been granted. Unlike the Jumbo scheme, the Garibaldi proponents appear to finally have all their ducks in a row, despite the fact the Whistler cabal is outraged over the prospect of another resort in close proximity and Squamish council nixed the proposal over various concerns, including being on the hook for infrastructure costs.
On a final note, if any of these prognostications fail to materialize, please don’t blame the messenger.
