If you build it, they will complain
By Steven Heywood
You can't blame the Western Canada Wilderness Committee for
wanting more space in MacMillan Park. Having walked through
the Cathedral Grove portion of the park a few times last month,
I know I could use the extra space for a longer hike through
majestic trees and interpretive trails. As it is today, Cathedral
Grove is something of a quick-hitter - you can go in and out
in a few minutes or spend more time lingering in this easily-accessible
area.
These visits have been in December - and yet I was never alone.
Many people drop in to Cathedral Grove, on any given day of
the week. From all accounts, and I admit I have yet to see this,
summer tourist season really puts a lot of pressure on the area.
From the walking trails to the small pullouts beside the highway,
the park is apparently quite packed.
To accommodate this tourist traffic, a new parking area is in
the works. In fact, by Jan. 12 we should know who gets to build
it before next summer - parking metres and all. Leaving the
'extra' issues of pay parking and pavement aside, the lot is
needed to get the cars, busses and motor homes off of Highway
4. It's a safety issue and both the government and WCWC agree
is important.
Where they differ is in the location. WCWC's Annette Tanner
wonders why after all these years of planning for new parking
the government has decided now's the time. They feel moving
the parking area further down the road (and thereby adding more
land to the park) is the way to go. Joyce Murray, minister of
water, land and air protection, and MLA Gillian Trumper agree
now is as good a time as any - they have extra land (21 hectares
purchased in 2001) especially for the lot, and room in the budget.
So, why now?
I would ask in response: why not now? If a new parking lot has
been in the works for years (and everyone knows it's coming),
what's wrong with actually building it? I know I'll hear from
people with all sorts of excuses as to why not, but tell me
this, if the government waits longer, moves it, redesigns the
lot or returns to public consultation, what changes?
Accommodating people in a sensitive environment will always
have its pitfalls and challengers, now, or a few years from
now. No matter where they build it there are obstacles - and
agendas - to overcome.
© Copyright 2003 Parksville Qualicum News
