“People can get a blend of facts and misinformation on
the new government website for Cathedral Grove.” states
Syd Haskell of CFS.
“Trumper has once again resorted to name-calling and unsubstantiated
innuendo”, stated Syd Haskell of the Carmanah Forestry
Society. “She always has hated environmentalist, and her
“suspicions” of our motives being based on “foreign
funding” is a silly idea.” “It’s no more
ridiculous as my
retort: Our “suspicions” are that she is suggesting
that Bin Laden is bankrolling the whole operation” Haskell
exaggerated, “Next thing you know, she’ll be calling
us terrorists.”
“Instead of agreeing to participating in an open and public
debate in your town, she has ignored our challenge and hiding
behind ”Press Releases” and now publicly funded “web
sites,” Haskell retorted, “ If she wants to do it
that way, then let’s swap Links with our www.cathedralgrove.com,
as a start in getting both sides of the story out.” “We
believe that, the public would be disgusted to see how she hatefully
characterizes people who care about elk and the park”,
and to that end you will now find her latest news release linked
on ours.”
Public safety is a valid concern, in regards to the monster
sized campers in her photos and “we believe that in a proper
public process, a far more sensitive plan would be established”
Haskell added. “Some suggest that these monster sized campers
in her website could be placed in a small parking area in one
of the blow-down areas close to the highway (within the newly
acquired lands,) or better yet,” Haskell stated, “expand
the highway parking so that they can park parallel to the highway,
but that is avoiding the issue, and a full, open and meaningful
public process is the place to make these decisions, not on
websites and editorial pages. What’s she afraid of anyway?”
-30-
For further information please call Syd at 250-381-1141
REBUTTAL SHEET Re: Gillian Trumper Feb 16, 2004
1) Trumper--“I can only suspect this is another misinformation
campaign trying to fool foreign donors into supporting their
organizations. It’s shameful that these people are putting
their own bank accounts before the safety of the million visitors
a year who come to our marvellous park,” Trumper said.
1)Haskell--These allegations are unfounded and innuendo such
as this has no justification. CFS and WCWC Mid-Island Group
have received no foreign based funding during the Cathedral
Grove campaign. In calling us “shameful” she is once
again avoiding the issue and the facts and resorting to name
calling, Alberni-Qualicum deserves better. Where is the substance
to these fears of outside foreign money invading our community?
Just as the safety issue is based on fear rather than fact so
is are the recent allegations. The million visitors per year
will be substantially reduced, making the huge parking lot seem
even more ridiculous, once the paid parking is instigated a
mile away from the big trees. No visitation studies have been
conducted on the new site.
2) Trumper -- “Like everyone who calls this area home,
I would oppose any plan that disrupted the majesty of Cathedral
Grove".
2) Haskell – I “suspect” that she would see
the whole grove logged if she thought she could get away with
it. She was instrumental in pushing to have similar areas that
we tried to protect in Walbran and Nahmint cut.
3) Trumper “…before the safety of the million visitors
a year who come to our marvellous park,"
3) Haskell – The safety of the “new parking area”
includes a dangerous entry point which could be more dangerous
in summer season than the existing…no studies have been
undertaken, and this is basic in testing design.
4) Trumper -- "I've been working on this issue for almost
20 years - as Mayor, with the regional district, and now as
an MLA," Trumper said. "I'm proud to say we are moving
finally moving ahead to protect public safety - and an international
fundraising campaign based on misinformation by preservation
groups will not stop us."
4) Haskell – There is not international fundraising campaign,
a good idea, but the idea is silly, as international funders
would never involved themselves in something so small. She is
trying to paint us as the outsiders and her the “home-boy”.
It just isn’t so, and Cathedral Grove is a local issue
about to become larger due to her unwillingness to back off,
meet with us publicly and bring out the full facts. New information
that local governments have never been aware of has only come
out this month through our intensive research. We still don’t
have a copy of the plan if one exists.
GOVERNMENT "FACTSHEET" SOURCE...below
For more information on the Ministry of Water, Land and Air
Protection, visit our Web site at http://www.gov.bc.ca/wlap/
on the Internet.
Dec. 4, 2003 Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
MACMILLAN PARK SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
· In 1992 a master plan was developed for Macmillan
Provincial Park that made recommendations to address the public
safety issue associated with parking along Highway 4. COMMENT…12
years old is stale and needs revision
· In 2000, acting on the recommendations of the master
plan, and after eight years of study, BC Parks acquired a 21-hectare
parcel of property adjacent to the park. This property, formerly
industrial forestry land, has not been designated part of the
park and remains vacant Crown land.
· With the support of MLA Gillian Trumper and MLA Judith
Reid, and in co-operation with the municipalities of Port Alberni,
Qualicum Beach and Parksville, work commenced on developing
plans and specifications and background environmental studies
for the parking area.
· In May 2001, construction of the new parking area
commenced. Concerns over costs and potential site impacts resulted
in postponement of the project. COMMENT…what evidence is
there that the construction commenced?
· At that time, Water, Land & Air Protection Minister
Joyce Murray personally met with the Western Canada Wilderness
Committee to discuss its concerns. The concerns were addressed
as follows: o Concerns about elk and other riparian wildlife
habitat § Following two studies, this concern has been
addressed by extending the riparian wildlife corridor between
the parking area and Cameron River to 80 metres. Elk habitat
enhancement work will also be performed, and includes cutting
movement corridors through areas with heavy concentrations of
old windthrow.
COMMENT…studies show that this herd of elk does not share
habitat comfortably with humans. 300 metres is needed, and they
are removing that area within the park by building a trail where
none presently exist as well as the parking lot. Cutting old
growth blowdown that will not be used will not work.
o Concerns about blowdown or windthrow
§ Two extensive studies by independent environmental consultants,
which included a review of storm patterns and wind speeds, indicate
that windthrow will not be of increased concern.
COMMENT…”not of increased concern” does not
state
that “risk of wind-throw will not increase”.
o Concerns about water quality and run-off from the parking
area § The shape, placement and surface of the proposed
facility have been developed so there is no direct run-off into
the Cameron River. Furthermore, the level of the area is designed
to be above the benchmark “200 year flood” water level.
This work was reviewed by respected aquatic ecologist Patrick
Lucey. Macmillan park safety improvement project…/2 o A
desire for park expansion – particularly to include the
400-ha parcel of forestry land owned by Weyerhaeuser located
across the highway from the park. § The Ministry explored
this option, as well as three others. Ministry and other government
representatives met with Weyerhaeuser to discuss the terms of
a possible purchase. This option would be significantly more
expensive and inferior in providing the public with safe, convenient
access to the park core area. § Since this land is across
the highway from the park, the required pedestrian overpass
would cost a significant amount of money while providing no
additional environmental protection. In fact, the pedestrian
overpass would itself have a significant environmental impact.
COMMENT, this is incorrect as the Park is on both sides of
the highway, and a crosswalk or overhead walkway is a requirement
today
. § The development of parking facilities on this land
could also require the removal or modification of some old growth
forest.
COMMENT, not to defend this proposal, but the present parking
lot and road access also involves the removal and modification
of old growth forest.
· To further minimize this project’s environmental
footprint, a proposed visitors’ centre has been removed
from the plans. · The parking area option chosen by the
Ministry provides for the addition of 21 ha of new land to the
136-ha Macmillan Park. The parking area – to be placed
in a previously logged second growth area – will take up
only two ha. All of this formerly industrial forest land will
become protected. · The Ministry examined four options
for the parking area project. Based on the evaluation criteria
of: wildlife habitat, water quality, threats to trees, distances
to Cathedral Grove, safety, parking configuration and cost,
the proposed site and design ranks highest of all the options.
COMMENT they were all based within the same contenious areas
· The decision to pursue the proposed parking area placement
and design results from many expert studies to consider windthrow
protection, hydrology, environmental impacts and wildlife habitat.
It also follows extensive consultation with environmental advocates,
local government and the general public.
COMMENT…this consultation with environmental advocates
and the general public must have taken place a very long time
ago.
· Local communities asked the ministry to improve public
safety at Macmillan Provincial Park. This plan has support from
stakeholders, local chambers of commerce, parks users, the RCMP
and affected communities.
COMMENT…not as many communities as Trumpers’ office
suggested in correspondence that her office supplied us with.
We found that only half of those she said had supported her
plan had record of it. The members of the
various affected communities were hand picked by Trumper. When
you
determine the membership you determine the outcome.
30-
Photos of the Macmillan Park parking area are available online
at: http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/pac/macmillan.htm
Contact:
Liz Bicknell
Communications Director
Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
250 387-9973
Gillian Trumper, MLA
Alberni-Qualicum
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
February 16, 2004
Trumper offers link to facts on Cathedral Grove
MLA's website has link to information about years of planning
for park
Port Alberni - People can get all the facts on the parking
lot at Cathedral Grove thanks to a new government web page.
Alberni-Qualicum MLA Gillian Trumper said her website at www.gilliantrumpermla.bc.ca
now links to the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection's
web page on the planning process for improved parking lot at
Cathedral Grove.
"Those of us who drive through the park on a regular basis
know the safety issue parking in MacMillan Park represents,"
Trumper said. "Protecting lives is why our community leaders
have said again and again we have to make this happen."
Trumper said extensive meetings have been held and numerous
environmental concerns have been addressed. What especially
bothers the MLA is the impression the parking lot opponents
are trying to leave that the improved safety somehow involves
logging in Cathedral Grove.
"I can only suspect this is another misinformation campaign
trying to fool foreign donors into supporting their organizations.
It's shameful that these people are putting their own bank accounts
before the safety of the million visitors a year who come to
our marvellous park," Trumper said. "Like everyone
who calls this area home, I would oppose any plan that disrupted
the majesty of Cathedral Grove."
The parking lot being criticized isn't even in the original
park - it will be located on two hectares of a 20-hectare parcel
adjacent to the park. That land was acquired from Weyerhaeuser
with the sole purpose of building a parking lot. The extra land
- which is second growth forest - will be added to MacMillan
Park, expanding it from 136 hectares to 157 hectares.
"I've been working on this issue for almost 20 years -
as Mayor, with the regional district, and now as an MLA,"
Trumper said. "I'm proud to say we are moving finally moving
ahead to protect public safety - and an international fundraising
campaign based on misinformation by preservation groups will
not stop us."
(-30-)
For more information: 250-720-4515 or 1-866-870-4190
Syd Haskell, President
Carmanah Forestry Society
250-381-1141
www.carmanah.bc.ca
www.cathedralgrove.com
Cathedral Grove -- Save what's left!
Rainforest Tours and Advocacy
