The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board says it cannot support Burnco’s proposed gravel mine at McNab Creek, at least as it’s outlined in the company’s current application for an environmental certificate.
But the board’s position is far from unanimous.
A motion that says the project poses a risk to the recovery of Howe Sound from earlier industrial activity and the area’s “renewed ecological, recreational and commercial vitality” passed in a 4-3 vote Oct. 13.
When the motion was first brought forward by Roberts Creek director Mark Lebbell at a Sept. 22 committee meeting, directors voted to put it on hold until Burnco responds to the 42 recommendations the SCRD had already submitted as part of the environmental assessment process.
And some directors made the same argument when Lebbell reintroduced the motion at the board session.
“We had a lot of discussion at CAS [corporate and administrative services committee] around the timing of a resolution, as well as the content,” Lebbell told the board. “At CAS the view that it may be too late for that resolution was presented, along with the view that it may be too early.... There was also the concern expressed that a broad comment like that might impinge on the effectiveness of the 42 recommendations that staff and the board had developed. But I think the timing is right today.... I believe that other local governments will be looking this way to see some leadership on a project that falls within our boundaries.”
West Howe Sound director Ian Winn said that he felt the motion would present a concise version of the SCRD’s concerns and leave room to change positions based on the results of the environmental assessment.
“Overall, we will have opportunity to see that, and make other decisions based on what we see coming from the process, but the key thing to do right now is recognize that, as presented, it’s a risk-thick endeavour,” said Winn.
SCRD chair, and Halfmoon Bay director, Garry Nohr said the motion sends the wrong message. “What’s the sense of having our input to the environmental assessment application if we’re going to say, ‘That’s OK, we gave you 42 [recommendations] but we’re going to vote no anyway’? We’re not keeping an open mind.”
Frank Mauro, director for Pender Harbour, said he felt Lebbell’s motion would be redundant as well as possibly prejudicial to the environmental assessment process. “The motion says that we can’t support the application as presented and I think we have made that obvious through our actions commenting on the environmental assessment and including some community items that might have been missed. So what I’m saying is that this is inherent in our current response, and I think we should be seen as following process.”
CAO Janette Loveys said SCRD staff also believe the motion could be seen as prejudicing the environmental assessment.
Sechelt director Darnelda Siegers, though, offered the opinion that the motion could serve to add weight to the 42 recommendations the regional district made, noting that the words “as presented at this time” leave room for the board to change its position.
Directors Nohr, Mauro and Silas White (Gibsons) opposed the motion, but it passed with backing from Lebbell, Winn, Siegers and Lorne Lewis (Elphinstone).
As well as the environmental assessment from the federal and provincial governments, Burnco will need a rezoning approval from the SCRD before the project can go ahead.
