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Preserving lot 1313 should be a priority

Editor: In the 2005 local elections, I ran for director of area E (Elphinstone). Acquiring Lot 1313 as a park was an integral part of my platform. Then and now, I believe in the value of readily accessible forested land to the community.

Editor:

In the 2005 local elections, I ran for director of area E (Elphinstone).

Acquiring Lot 1313 as a park was an integral part of my platform.

Then and now, I believe in the value of readily accessible forested land to the community. Area E has no parkland above the highway. Our current official community plan (OCP) acknowledges the need to acquire Lot 1313 (pages 56/57). "(a) Future community or regional park No.1 district Lot 1313 - Old Gibsons watershed reserve This large 48 ha. (120 acre) site includes land sloping northward towards Mount Elphinstone and is covered by the largest areas of mature coniferous forest and wetland identified in the Sunshine Coast sensitive ecosystem inventory (2003) within the Elphinstone OCP."

As a licensed daycare provider, I am quite familiar with the B.C. government shift towards incorporating nature and natural play into everyday activity for children attending licensed daycares. Lot 1313 would be an asset that children could enjoy.

I commend Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF) for bringing to the community's attention the intent of BC Timber Sales (BCTS) to log Lot 1313.

From the article in the Coast Reporter, Feb. 21, it appears the Sunshine Coast Regional District has dropped the ball in their discussions with BCTS last year. ELF not only informed the community about Lot 1313, they fill a need as a critic that makes us think.

Lot 1313 could be our Cliff Gilker Park, within walking distance of a good portion of Elphinstone and Gibsons.

With a different outcome in the 2005 election, Lot 1313 may well have been a park by now. If I decide to run in the coming election, Lot 1313 as a park for our community enjoyment will again be an integral part of my election platform.

Robert Corlett, Gibsons