Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Mid-Island
Box 442, Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K lS9, ph. 250
752-6585, fax: 250 752-7085
email: wcwcqb@shaw.ca www.cathedralgrove.com
Press Release
Thursday July 15, 2004
WCWC and Minister Meet to Discuss Safety and Future of Cathedral
Grove
Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC), Canada
Minister Bill Barisoff of Water, Land and Air Protection met with
the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Mid Island Chapter in
the Minister’s office in the legislature this week to discuss
the future of MacMillan Park in Cathedral Grove.
World famous, 157- hectare MacMillan Park, located
in Cathedral Grove, has been the subject of a controversial 5-acre
parking lot with road-wide trails planned through the fragile
forested floodplain where the famous giants are located. Elk habitat,
blowdown from wind openings, and traffic safety have resulted
in letters, petitions and calls to the Minister requesting public
forums to allow public input into the changes being proposed for
the most visited park in British Columbia.
“We clearly emphasized foremost,the need
for immediate implementation of safety measures in the existing
parking areas, such as flag people for the busy summer season,
a marked crosswalk, flashing lights, speed enforcement, better
signage and removal of the concession stand that is creating congestion
and taking up parking spaces,” explains AnnetteTanner, WCWC
Mid Island spokesperson.
The group also asked for a moratorium on the
proposed project until traffic safety and hydrological studies
for the changes have been completed and all proposed changes to
the Park are presented to the public for comment.
The Minister was shown the many letters of community support as
well as thousands of signatures from all over the world asking
the government to enter into negotiations with Weyerhaeuser to
enlarge MacMillan Park to include all of Cathedral Grove, “
Tanner continues. Weyerhaeuser has voluntarily suspended their
plans to log in the Grove in order to allow the Campbell Government
the opportunity for enlarging the small busy park that is projected
to see more than 1,000,000 visitors this year.
- for more information, phone Annette Tanner
250 752-6585 or 951-5015 -
