Nothing residents say will keep the province from selling and developing Crown land in the Lac des Roches area.
This was the message Robin Levesque, regional manager of Development and Marketing for Land and Water British Columbia (LWBC), had for the approximately 90 concerned citizens who attended a meeting Aug. 25 at the Interlakes Hall.
Levesque has been busy meeting with residents of the South Cariboo and Thompson soliciting input on the proposed development.
“What we’ve done is establish a fair process to come out to the community, and find out what the interests are and what is important,” said Levesque to the overwhelmingly unsupportive audience. “You cannot simply tell me to walk away, because I will not. It’s not my job to walk away.”
The LWBC, a Crown corporation, has unveiled a proposal for a massive development at Lac des Roches, Birch Lake and Montana Lake. The Crown land in question lies within the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD).
The TNRD guidelines allow the LWBC the potential to develop 98 additional residential units at Lac des Roches, 130 at Birch Lake and 61 at Montana Lake.
“Even these numbers are not set in stone,” said Levesque. “This is what the designation allows. In certain areas, for example Birch Lake, I don’t think we can accommodate 130 properties on that lake. Obviously we’re going to have to look at a reduced number and transfer that density to the core of the development or not develop them at all.”
Though some developers have expressed interest, none have committed to the project, said Levesque.
“It’s horrible,” said Lac des Roches resident Marie Wallewein. “They’re going to take away all the pristine wilderness that’s out there. You bring in all these people with all these boats and ATV’s and all these snowmobiles, and you’ll just kill it.”
Wallewein’s husband, Al, was also concerned that a increase in population could result in an increase in criminal activity.
“It will bring all sorts of crime here,” he said. “All the houses that aren’t occupied in the winter are going to have more break-ins.”
Rod Maclead, a seasonal resident of Lac des Roches for 41 years as well as a former forester in the area, was concerned over the environmental impact on the lake.
“The turnover of this lake could be easily 20 years – the time it takes the water to completely change,” said Macleod. “So any contamination you get from increased development is going to have a very permanent effect.”
Janet Ames, who lives in the Bridge Lake area, questioned the practicality of choosing to develop the Lac des Roches area.
“I think it’s impractical to sell this type of development here, because there’s no demand for it,” said Ames. “I think it will be a hard sell.”
During the question-and-answer portion, one of the more impassioned presentations denouncing the development came from recent Lac des Roches resident Barry Reid.
“I don’t know where Land and Water BC got the right to take Crown land, which is an inheritance for my children and your children, and turn it into a private resort,” said Reid to a cheering crowd. “I can tell you there are a large number of people in this room who are going to be there every time you turn around. This is a beautiful lake, and you don’t have the right to destroy it.”
Following the meeting, Reid further elaborated on his frustration over the proposed development to the Free Press.
“People moved here, because they like it the way it is,” said Reid. “It’s not as if we’re trying to keep people out – not in my backyard. This isn’t our backyard. It’s our front yard, our home.”
Levesque said people can state their case through public hearings. However, he would like to address concerns prior to reaching that process while the project is still in its preliminary stages and there is flexibility to accommodate those concerns.
Levesque encouraged concerned citizens to form a property owners’ association.
“That would be great, because then we’d have a specific group to work with, work through those issues, and at the end of the day, hopefully come to some sore of resolution,” said Levesque.
One of those resolutions will not be a total abandonment of the project.
“If the only thing that’s going to make you happy is no development then I can pretty much assure you you’re not going to be happy,” said Levesque. “We need to find that middle ground where we can make more people happy.”
Many in the audience took up Levesque’s suggestion to form an association, which Reid began to organize.
“I had no intention of spearheading anything,” said Reid, who explained he was just tired of not being heard. “Decisions are made, and they say we’ll listen to what you have to say, but there’s nothing that happens. And to suggest that were going to listen to your concerns and then have no action that follows in meaningless.”
Reid can be reached at 593-4964 regarding the association.
The LWBC will be collecting the information gathered over the past month, and meeting with the TNRD to continue the process.
“We’ll be looking for items like an archaeological overview, environmental impact study and those types of things,” said Levesque. “We need to know what those items are before we move onto an actual application.”
As well, Levesque will be attending a meeting of 20 or so fishing and wildlife enthusiasts in Kamloops with questions about the project.
For more details visit <a href=”http://www.urban-systems.com/clients/lacdesroches”>www.urban-systems.com/clients/lacdesroches</a>, or call Robin Levesque at (250) 377-7021.