Concrete makes Jumbo Resort a reality, but opponents plan to keep up the fight
By Colin Payne
Despite the best efforts of those opposed, cement has been poured for the day lodge of the Jumbo Glacier Resort project – making a concrete reality out of a long-fought project both by those who loathe it and those who want to see it happen.
Opponents to the Jumbo project held a rally on the Jumbo FSR last weekend as concrete trucks were expected to show up and pour a foundation for the resort’s day lodge building, but according to Jumbo Wild Facebook page, they were turned away due to unsuitable road conditions.
But a recent update from the West Kootenay EcoSociety indicates that the trucks were eventually able to get in and pour the concrete, which helps Jumbo proponent Glacier Resorts Limited meet the goal of starting construction before its environmental assessment certificate expires on Oct. 12.
“Early this morning, after several days of delay, Glacier Resorts Limited began pouring concrete for the foundation of a day lodge in the Jumbo Valley,” a release from the WKES on (Wednesday) October 8 states.
“Glacier Resorts Limited did the unthinkable. They desecrated a beautiful valley that has never seen a permanent human settlement, despite overwhelming public opposition.”
Despite this setback for their campaign, the WKES and other opponents of Jumbo say there’s still a long road to go and many battles to be fought before Jumbo becomes a reality.
“The Minister of Environment will have to decide whether a last-minute foundation for one building is a “substantial” start to a project that is supposed to include 21 ski lifts, at least three lodges and accommodation for 6,500 people,” the WKES said.
“The courts will have to decide whether the “Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality” can be a city when it has no citizens. And most importantly of all the people of this region will have to decided if we are going to stand aside and do nothing when an unresponsive and irresponsible provincial government bends every rule in the book to allow this boondoggle to continue.”
The WKES currently has legal action underway against the establishment of the Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality established by the government, and the project faces a legal appeal by the Ktunaxa over the local First Nation’s claim that they weren’t adequately consulted on the development of a project on their traditional land.
On top of that, the WKES recently sent a letter (link to letter) to the province asking the Ministry of Environment to issue a stop work order for the project due to claims that GRL isn’t complying with its environmental certificate.
The letter claims that GRL hasn’t complied with four of the 195 conditions in its environmental assessment certificate, around water quality, grizzly bear DNA sampling, prohibiting recreational use of all-terrain vehicles and creation of a fund to protect endangered wildlife during construction.
“ We are . . . dismayed at the lack of rigor applied to enforcing the environmental certificate,” states the letter.
“We believe that the interpretations of the EAO on monitoring and compliance on this project. We believe that the interpretations of the EAO are neither reasonable or sufficient to meet the intent of the Environmental Assessment Act in protecting the natural environment. We therefore request that the Minister use her discretion to cease activities at the site until compliance is achieved.”
The Nelson Daily contacted the Ministry of Environment (MOE) for a response to the WKES letter and claims.
According to an e-mail from the MOE, the EAO is nearing completion of a compliance review of key pre-construction requirements for Jumbo’s environmental assessment certificate and the results should be posted by the end of this week.
“Jumbo Glacier Resort began construction in August, 2014,” the MOE states.
“Since the end of July, 2014, EAO, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure have conducted nine site visits and field inspections.
“No on-the-ground contraventions were noted in those site visits/field inspections. Natural resource officers conducted inspections on Saturday and Sunday this (past) weekend. EAO Compliance and Enforcement or Natural Resource Officers will be onsite all or most days this week to ensure compliance oversight.”
Comments