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SCRD calls for halt to Burnco review

McNab Creek

Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) directors are calling for the provincial government to halt Burnco Rock Products’ environmental assessment process so that the Calgary-based company can present its new plan to the public.

Revised in July, Burnco’s project plan for a gravel mine at McNab Creek “materially alters the original statements presented to the public by the applicant,” said a Sept. 18 recommendation from the planning and development committee.

In a report to the committee, senior planner David Rafael said the most significant changes to the plan reduce the tree buffer between the shore and the processing area and move the dock and eastern boundary of the processing area closer to strata properties on McNab Creek.

“At this point the changes may increase noise impact (both for the McNab properties and the wider area) and environmental impact on the foreshore,” Rafael said in the report.

West Howe Sound director Lee Turnbull said she was “quite alarmed” by the increased processing area, which was originally 25,200 square metres but was revised in the new plan to 40,785 square metres, and the increased size of stockpiles.

“I’m feeling that the public’s being left out here in what’s going on.” Turnbull said.

Gibsons alternate director Lee Ann Johnson said she had serious concerns about the tree buffer “being wholly inadequate” and “not big enough to in effect screen anything.”

The revised plan, Johnson said, would expose all of Howe Sound to light and noise from the gravel operation.

The dramatic changes indicate that “we’ve entered the gloves-off portion of this application,” she added. “I feel like we’ve been duped into thinking that they were going to be trying to protect the foreshore … and they’re in fact not.”

The committee’s recommendation included a series of comments highlighting directors’ concerns regarding noise, light and other impacts, and requested staff set up a meeting between the SCRD board and Squamish Nation’s chief and council to discuss the proposal.

Last month, Burnco regional manager Derek Holmes said the changes would all be addressed in the company’s environmental impact statement.