Anyone taking a stroll along Willingdon Beach Trail, enjoying the stands of Douglas fir, hemlock and cedar that the city just purchased, will come face to face with Powell River’s past.
It is evident in the restored turn-of-the-century steam donkey, the freshly-painted 1950s’ bulldozer and the 1980s’ era MacMillan Bloedel boom boat.
Powell River and the forestry industry have been fellow travellers for a long time.
The trees of upper and lower Millennium Park were saved with a $1.18-million cheque from the city, but that money comes from other trees falling in a less visible part of town. It is the same story for how the half a million dollar tab for Powell River’s bike and skate park was picked up.
Powell River continues to be in some senses a town built on logging.
But those who object to the logging in Lot 450 say they are not against the harvest of trees as an industry or those who continue to do the work to provide for their families. What they are upset about is where the logging is happening—along Powell River’s green belt. One wonders if this might be a case of community NIMBYism.
It is right to be concerned about the loss of wildlife and bird habitat and about losing the trails and recreation space that have been carved through the woods. In some ways this forest defines Powell River, in the same way Stanley Park does for Vancouver.
The regulations which dictate the way tree harvest on private managed forest land should be conducted are not as stringent as those for public lands. And the regulatory bodies which set rules do not necessarily enforce those standards.
Island Timberlands has said that it will take into consideration a full range of public values including riparian and recreation trails as it proceeds with harvesting, but how much consideration is really given if that does not include environmental impact reports prior to the project beginning?
Island Timberlands does not have to live with the consequences of this, Powell River does.
Lot 450 has not been protected park land. Even city council knew that today’s events would be difficult for residents and that is why they worked so hard to establish the boundaries of Millennium Park and differentiate them from land that is going to be logged. It cost close to $2.45 million to create that park. Imagine how much is would cost to save the whole of Lot 450.
