Hello everyone:
An important update on the proposed Ashlu Power Project
The SLRD Board meeting on Dec 17 was to be the
end of the long and controversial battle over the fate
of Ashlu Creek, however - this issue drags on...
The SLRD staff report was clear in its unequivocal
recommendation that the projects rezoning should
be denied.
You can view the staff report here:
http://www.ashluriver.ca/Documents/A...rt_&_Bylaw.pdf
It remains to be seen how the SLRD Board would have
voted. Why?
Despite clear policies that the SLRD Board can not
receive new information regarding a project after the
close of the Public Hearing on the matter, the Minister
of Sustainable Resource Management, George Abbott,
personally called, and faxed the SLRD a letter the day
prior to the decision, and essentially forced the SLRD
board to receive new information.
According to the SLRD's own policies they are required
to allow the public to review this information, and to have
an opportunity to comment. This is a legal requirement.
This forced the SLRD to go to yet another Public Hearing
on this matter - an unheard of occurrence (note that the second
public hearing was also forced by the provincial government
when they provided new information to the SLRD the day of
the first public hearing).
The SLRD Board was not at all appreciative of this - which
appears to be a clear attempt to stall the SLRD decision, and
further, to influence that decision in the favour of the province
(who has pushed to have this project approved despite ongoing
concerns being expressed on a number of fronts).
The next Public Hearing (and hopefully the final one) will be held
January 10 - 7:00 PM
Sea to Sky Hotel, Squamish BC
This will be the final meeting on this matter, as the SLRD is going
to vote the next morning, January 11, on this matter.
I know this has been a ridiculous burden to everyone who has
concerns about the project, but I am again asking that you make
an effort to attend this meeting.
As with the last Public Hearing it is important that people stand
up and speak up against the project. At this point there may not
be anything earth shattering to say, or anything that has not been
said before, but it is critical that the voice of opposition not be worn
down by the process - which is certainly a key concern, and no doubt
a part of the strategy for getting project approved despite the numerous
outstanding concerns.
Please attend this meeting and put forward your concerns.
Sincerely
Stuart
Stuart Smith
WKABC River Projects Coordinator
PO Box 5537
Squamish, BC
V0N 3G0
Phone/Fax: (604) 815-4113
E-mail:
riverman@shaw.ca
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