by Dave Preston
A new zipline adventure park up Princeton Avenue earlier this month by the Province of B.C. but municipal staff are not convinced the proponent went far enough when it comes to environmental assessments.
Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting agenda includes a report from the Planning and Development Services Department that details staff concerns with what it says is insufficient information.
Zipline Adventures Ltd. received a 10-year license of occupation for a 48-acre property near the intersection of Brenda Mine Road and the Headwaters Road to build and operate a seven-line zipline adventure area. Application was made through Front Counter BC, which asked for input from the District of Peachland.
(Read a previous Peachland News report on the zipline proposal by clicking here.)
In answer, the district said it did not support the venture until the proponent completed a formal planning study and reports concerning the impact of the project on Peachland.
“Our staff have reviewed the document and have found the document insufficient int erms of addressing the required issues,” states the staff report.
Issues noted by staff include:
- No analysis related to the impact of operations on the watershed;
- No indication that IHA requirements will be met;
- There was a reference made to thinning of vegetation for fire fuel load management but no reference made to completing a Wildfire Management Plan prepared by a qualified professional forester;
- The report was done by a qualified environmental professional.
There is no indication that the District of Peachland has any further influence on the project, which is set to open in 2011 outside of municipal boundaries.
- Excited
- Informed
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
It seems like staff seem to think this project is inside the boundries of Peachland, which it clearly isn’t. This buisness will not get any of the services that peachland has to offer, and Peachland should not be trying to tell them what they have to do. Bottom line, if the appropriate permits are in place, leave them alone, we have no say, and besides, this type of buisness will have no impact on any of the municipat infrastructure, the only thing it will do is bring tourist dollars to town.
All in all, this is good, staff are just miffed they didn’t get to voice their opinions or try to get silly things done their way so they could slow things down and bog down things in red tape.
I’m looking forward to this buisness being operational.
I am disappointed that David Smith, Peachland Director of Planning didn’t just pick up the phone and ask for clarification.
I have an approval letter from the IHA, I have the answers to all these comments, and the environmental consultant I hired has over 26 years experience and employs numerous QEP certified staff.
Smith’s job is to provide councilors with the most complete information he can and I’m puzzled that he didn’t call. Providing incorrect information to the Councilors damages their credibility, alarms the public and hurts my reputation.
I’m proud of what we’re doing and looking forward to bringing a great new attraction to the area and 15 new jobs to Peachland.
I’d also like to say a big “Thank You” to the many people who have stopped by the site to wish me good luck and to the people in the Castanet poll who voted 12 to 1 in favor of my park.
Picking up the phone to ask a question would have shown that they did not have the answers and asking someone that does would have been out of the question. It has been a common thing in Peachland to race into things before they have all their ducks in a row, spending time regrouping after the fact before to many notice.