Barisoff vows change in the Grove by 2005
Parksville-Qualicum News, Friday, October 29, 2004


By Steven Heywood

Expect a decision on the future of public parking in Cathedral Grove in a month's time, says Bill Barisoff.

B.C.'s Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection says he's sticking to his plan to have unsafe parking issues resolved in the province's third most visited park prior to the 2005 tourist season. Barisoff, BC Parks staff, RCMP and MLA Gillian Trumper held a public meeting on the Grove Monday night in Port Alberni.

"We can't have people parking on the side of the road," Barisoff said, "especially if there's going to be more traffic."

Whether Barisoff stays with highly-touted plans for a new parking lot, or adopts some of the suggestions made during the meeting, remains to be seen. He did say he heard two good ideas - from moving traffic with a new connector highway between Port Alberni and Horne Lake to busing tourists in and eliminating parking altogether.

However, the chances of making such changes in the plans before Barisoff makes a decision appear slim. Barisoff said he will analyze parking plans and suggestions made by the public. Any consideration of a Horne Lake connector, he continued, is up to the transportation minister.

"There are a lot of 'asked for' roads in the province," he said. "I listened to the Horne Lake idea and busing options. In all fairness, I will make a decision."

Barisoff was presented with a room full of people opposed to a new parking lot in the Grove. While everyone agreed safety is an issue, few agreed that plans for a lot within second growth forest - and the loss of some old growth trees - are acceptable.

"The value of this area is beyond cost," said Judith Sayers, chief of the Hupacasath First Nation, who suggested a shuttle bus concept.

"Instead of charging people to park there, charge for the shuttle."

Ingmar Lee, an environmentalist, suggested a linear parking lot on the north side of the highway through the park, using an existing cutline and avoiding older trees. The idea, however, had already been rejected by BC Parks.

Chris Kissinger, BC Parks' regional section head told the crowd a long, narrow lot like that would create a wind tunnel.
A Horne Lake-Port Alberni connector received the most support from the audience. Such a route, they argued, would get through traffic away from the park and pave the way for a potential closing the the current Alberni Highway through the Grove. Plans for a new highway along that route have been floating around for years and Trumper said studies on it are currently being updated. Costs, however, would run into the millions. Qualicum Beach town councillor Scott Tanner said the province's 3.5 cent gas tax from the Island could be used to help pay for the connector.

Environmentalists vowed, however, to remain up in the trees - where they've been since February - if Barisoff goes with current parking lot plans or makes a decision they don't like. For his part, the minister said once he has made a choice, he hopes common sense prevails.

"I will, as a last resort, act with the RCMP."