True cost of a park
Is it true that City of Powell River Council is in the process of amending our Tree Protection Bylaw with the final vote to be held on Thursday, April 2? Will this amendment, if adopted, remove protection of the trees in Lot 450 so that Island Timberlands can harvest them? Is the only way council can ensure a treed Millennium Park, by amending bylaws and sacrificing other trees [“Council prepares bylaw amendment,” April 1]?
When I moved to Powell River 14 years ago, the forest above Timberlane Avenue (Dieppe) was already cleared, Lombardy Hill was logged by Weyerhaeuser and the trees between Tla’amin (Sliammon) Nation and Wildwood disappeared.
On August 30, 2007, the Peak printed an article: “Tree protection idea takes root,” and in a later article, in May 2008, “Councillors pass first three readings of Tree Protection Bylaw.” It was noted in one article that there had been extensive logging within the city over the past eight years. “All this has changed our local landscape progressively and dramatically,” the report noted.
Seven years later we seem to be moving backward with this unsigned agreement between the city and Island Timberlands. Council’s action here seems more than dramatic, it seems desperate. As adults we have an obligation to the children of Powell River to understand this proposed tree harvesting agreement. Will the mayor and councillors turn on the lights for the public to see?
Some may call me a tree hugger for speaking out and I will confess that I owe my middle class upbringing to the forest industry as my father was a faller. However, he had regrets about logging old growth in the 1950s. He said, “We didn’t know any better.”
As we stroll through a treed Millennium Park, I wonder how much enjoyment we will have knowing council’s logging agreement meant “other” trees that have graced our neighbourhoods with their shade, shelter and beauty have paid the price for our park?
Will we also say, “We didn’t know any better”?
Barbara Illerbrun
Maple Avenue
Do city trees matter?
In 2006, PRSC Ltd. purchased hundreds of treed acres of undeveloped land within the City of Powell River, from Catalyst Paper Corporation. However, the cutting rights to the timber on those lands were retained by Island Timberlands.
In 2008, concerned with the protection and preservation of trees, city council adopted at Tree Protection Bylaw that would apply to trees on land two-and-one-half acres or greater.
Millennium Park became a reality when in 2010 the city purchased a large portion of land from PRSC. Island Timberlands retained the cutting rights to the timber on this land.
One would think at this point that trees in Millennium Park, on lands owned and never to be developed by the city, would forever be protected by the Tree Protection Bylaw from harvesting.
Prior to the last civic election, city council enthusiastically announced that the Millennium Park trees were saved for the sum of $1,125,000.
Citizens of Powell River were ecstatic, the Park trees were spared.
Why was the whole story not told?
A careful reading of an October 10, 2014 letter from Island Timberlands to Mayor Dave Formosa reveals that the forest company will only release its cutting rights to Millennium Park’s trees for $1,125,000, after it has completed its harvesting activities for the remainder of the lands as outlined in its plans given to PRSC in 2013.
To facilitate the harvesting of trees by Island Timberlands on the old golf course and between Marine Avenue and the pole line east of Brooks Secondary School, council at its April 2, 2015 meeting, will consider the adoption of a Tree Protection Amendment Bylaw.
It is Island Timberlands that is to financially gain from the harvesting of these trees not the city or PRSC, so why is council more interested in seeing these trees harvested as opposed to purchasing those timber rights from Island Timberlands and leaving this forest intact?
Would it be an outrageous idea to suggest that the public be consulted regarding the future of these forested areas and the creatures in them?
George Orchiston
Joyce Avenue
Logging logic
In response to Graham Cocksedge’s letter on the rumours of Island Timberlands logging its own property, it’s its property regardless of where it is [“Rumours,” March 18 and 25].
He believes in teaching in the “real” world in a town based on forestry industry where in minutes you can be in green space. Willingdon Beach isn’t this town’s strongest attraction, it’s people. Clear-cuts he sees from roads provided by the forest industry that allow him into the backcountry are re-forested. Loggers are environmentalists as without re-forestation we wouldn’t have jobs, jobs that are needed to pay taxes and services (teacher salaries, among that) to keep the economy in a town going. His students should be taught that in the real world, which is unfortunately fuelled by money—”How can I get it?” “How much can I get?” and “What can it get me?”—they just need to look at the tech gadgets they constantly use, (iPads, cellphones, tablets, laptops, et cetera) that they can’t seem to live without. Who pays for that? Mom and Dad? How are they, in turn, able to pay for that? By either directly working in the logging industry or living in a community whose economy is logging-based that provides them which jobs which afford them such luxuries. The skate park was in part funded by Powell River Community Forest.
I am so tired of people in this town blasting the industry that is a large provider to the economy. Where would you all be without those of us whose work directly or indirectly sustains Powell River?
Students should be taught that in the “real” world they shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds them.
Cindy Ling
Serendipity Road
Gratitude in abundance
On Saturday morning I had an accident at the corner of Joyce and Westview avenues. Due to my own carelessness I fell off my bike onto the road.
The response was remarkable: a van driver called 911; a gentleman wearing a Canuck’s jersey with Bure’s name directed traffic; people picked up recent purchases and put them in the ambulance; Greg and his partner, the ambulance attendants, were fortuitously in the area and not only delivered me to emergency at Powell River General Hospital but my bike also; Dr. Arend Delport and the emergency staff provided outstanding attention at such a busy time.
I think I will live to bike another day. And if I do push the pedal again I won’t push my luck and I promise to wear a safety helmet.
I am deeply appreciative to a wonderful Powell River for putting me back together again [“Community exceeds acts of kindness target,” July 16, 2014].
John Uren
Kiwanis Avenue
Inefficient efficiency
BC Ferries regales in sailing on about efficiencies [“BC Ferries signs 10-year agreement,” February 4]. Every single weekend the Texada Island ferry remains idle for six hours per day during “operational” hours with crew on board. Where is the efficiency in that? Time to restore service and keep the public moving via the aqua highway.
Steve Perkins
Blair Road, Texada Island
