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SCRD, Gibsons seek Mt. Elphi protection

Both the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board and Gibsons council have agreed Mt. Elphinstone's fragile environment needs to be protected.

Both the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board and Gibsons council have agreed Mt. Elphinstone's fragile environment needs to be protected. But individual directors and councillors are divided about the best route to take to ensure the provincial government will listen.

While the Sunshine Coast sits in line to undergo a provincial land and resource management plan (LRMP) process - expected to begin in a year, local governments are trying to take more immediate action.

A majority of the SCRD directors approved a motion at the Oct. 27 board meeting to "support the inclusion of the entire 1,500 hectare area on Mt. Elphinstone to be added to the area proposed for a provincial park on Mt. Elphinstone."

At the Town of Gibsons' council meeting Nov. 1, the majority voted to ask the province to start an LRMP immediately, to put a moratorium on logging in the 1,500 hectare proposed park area in Roberts Creek until the LRMP is complete, to protect the water supply above Gibsons and to ask Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons to raise the question of an LRMP at the legislature.

Councillors Kenan Mackenzie and Tucker Forsyth opposed the Gibsons motion, while Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk and Elphinstone alternate director Robert Corlett opposed the SCRD motion, citing the need for more discussion and a broader plan.

Gibsons council also approved a motion to invite the Ministry of Forests to next Tuesday's planning committee meeting to discuss boundaries and implications of the proposed park. Roberts Creek director Adrian Belshaw and director-elect Donna Shugar have also been invited.

At the SCRD meeting, Janyk said there needs to be an LRMP planning process before creating a park. He added if an excluded area is created, it would put pressure on other areas to produce the province's timber allocation.

In an interview Wednesday, Janyk said he'd like to see an intelligent discussion rather than a knee-jerk reaction. He said it's short-sighted to not consider the surrounding land base. The Gibsons council motions would work better because it gives a more manageable approach to the issue rather than demanding the government put aside a certain area, he said.

"I'm trying to ensure we don't limit our options, and a moratorium would be an impetus to a discussion," Janyk said.The motion is trying to allow the Coast to jump ahead in the queue to start the LRMP process sooner, he said, and the community that yells the loudest will get the resources from the province to start the process.

"The process will take years, so it is interim management we need to worry about," he said.

Shugar, who recently won the Roberts Creek director's seat by acclamation, said she is pleased the board passed the motion and was surprised it hadn't been raised before. She said she's glad Gibsons is asking for an LRMP. She supports a moratorium during LRMP discussions, but step one should be to set aside the park, then the moratorium would be there, she said. The moratorium should happen outside the area of the proposed park, she added.

"We need to, as one voice, be saying these are the things we need," Shugar added.

She said she would support parks and moratoriums in other areas at the board table as needed.

"It's all one mountain. We need to be planning for the mountain," she said. "We are all a community that lives at the base of Mt. Elphinstone," referring to the surrounding areas including Gibsons and Elphinstone.

Corlett was sitting in for Elphinstone director Celia Fisher at the SCRD board meeting. He said he sees the motion as dividing the community because the board needs to consider other communities sharing the motion. The region should reach a consensus on what harvest levels should be on Mt. Elphinstone, he said.

Corlett said he was not taking a position against a park in Roberts Creek by voting against the motion.

"I felt that the SCRD as the larger body on the Coast ought to represent the views of all its constituents," he said.Corlett would like to see a broader discussion, involving all the communities and all the stakeholders. He said Victoria would listen if the larger community reached consensus on what areas can and can't be logged, on allowable harvesting levels and water protection rather than if the board approaches with piecemeal suggestions.

He is concerned the area above Elphinstone would be logged to protect the area above Roberts Creek with the proposed park. Elphinstone's interface has old growth trees and endangered species that also need to be protected, he said.He said he fully agrees with the Gibsons motions.

At the SCRD board, Sechelt Indian Band Chief Stan Dixon supported the proposed park.

"This motion will put the government on notice they have to act," Dixon said.

Halfmoon Bay director John Marian and Pender Harbour/Egmont director John Rees said the community is holding out for an LRMP that will solve all its problems, but the community may be disappointed with the end result.

"Everyone is speaking as if an LRMP will save us," Marian said.

"We can't sit and wait for this magic plan," Rees said.