BC Timber Sales (BCTS) has delayed the auction of Timber Sales Licence TA0521, on the slopes above Roberts Creek near Joe Smith Creek, to June 2024.
The sale had been slated to happen as early as July, rousing a vocal local opposition, including a change.org petition garnering nearly 16,000 signatures. Residents, conservationists and the Roberts Creek area regional district director cited concerns about proximity to residential areas, old growth recruitment potential, water security and downstream impacts on infrastructure in public pleas for delay or cancellation of the lot's logging.
"We rescheduled this to allow time to move through the 2023 to 2027 operating plan consultation process and as well to implement any recommendations that come out of this phase three of the watershed assessment report," said a BCTS representative at an April 6 virtual public engagement session for the Mt. Elphinstone Watershed Assessment phases one and two. Phase three of the watershed assessment is set to be released in June as part of the operating plan.
Timber Sales Licence TA0521 covers 23.8 hectares with an estimated 29,000 cubic metres of harvestable product, according to BCTS’s Dec. 20 sales schedule. Its eastern portion borders DL1313, locally known as the Reed Road Forest, which has seen its own local push for protection.
Hydrologic assessment of Timber Sales Licences TA0519 and TA0048 are deferred to 2028, according to a timeline document posted on the BCTS website.
– With files from Connie Jordison
