The Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake are ready to take on the task of protecting the lake they call home from excessive development.
The grassroots organization recently established its board, and is now making plans as to hoe to proceed in its attempt to keep a handle on a development proposal being pursued by the Crown corporation, Land and Water British Columbia Inc. (LWBC).
The proposal would see the sale of lakefront Crown land for the development of up to 98 residential properties around Lac des Roches, 130 at Birch Lake and 61 at Montana Lake. Recreation facilities such as a golf course and hotel have also been mentioned.
The friends’ group will soon be circulating a petition throughout the Cariboo as well as in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District asking for support from stakeholders.
“They’ll go to as many stores as will accept them,” said Bill Jollymore, who sits on the Friends’ executive. “Especially people who are interested in the sporting affairs like hunting, fishing and boating. Anybody who would be affected by such a development.
Jollymore said the plan is to have 3,000 – 4,000 signatures to deliver to the office of Premier Gordon Campbell prior to the May 2005 provincial election. He said that in circulation, the petitions will inform the public as well.
“It’s a matter of getting the word out and getting enough people on board and enough people informed,” said Jollymore, who added that even locally it’s been difficult to get people involved. “There seems to be a situation here I call Cariboo apathy. People that should be enraged by this just don’t seem to care. They’re not for it, but they’re not saying anything against it.”
Jollymore’s frustration with local apathy hasn’t lessened his passion for stopping the scale of development proposed by LWBC.
The Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake will be holding its next public meeting Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. in Bridge Lake School.