WATERSHED UPDATE – March 15^th, 2008

Here is the latest news as the information pertains to our protest rally (last Monday, March 10^th, 2008) outside and inside the District of Sechelt municipal offices.

Also I have included an update regarding the status of the blockade that was set up on the logging road, which served as the entrance to the cut block where the tree spacing program was taking place within the boundaries of the Chapman Creek watershed.

Yesterday, March 14^th, 2008 the President of the Board of Directors for the Sechelt Community Forest (SCPI) and the Mayor of Sechelt met with several residents (including myself) to discuss the Community Forest activities and the Juvenile Tree spacing program.

The meeting went very well and the final outcome was “positive” for everyone (Community Forest and residents alike).

Mr. Len Pakaulak spoke on behalf of the CF and explained to the residents that the CF had been in Victoria on Monday, March 10^th, 2008 and had attended a meeting with the Provincial Minister of Agriculture and Lands (Pat Bell), where the CF were informed that the Provincial government were in discussion with the Sechelt Indian Band over land use issues and that the SIB had requested “interim protection” of both the Grey Creek and Chapman Creek watersheds, from the provincial government.

Len, went on to say that, since this was the direction that both the SIB and the provincial government were heading, that the CF had decided to cancel their juvenile tree spacing program in the Chapman Creek watershed.

The residents were pleased to hear this news and the rest of the meeting was spent discussing some of the issues that the residents felt it was necessary for the CF to hear.

Len took down some notes and the Mayor of Sechelt (Cam Reid) joined in the discussions from time to time. The residents made it quite clear that wanted a letter from the CF stating clearly that the tree spacing project was “dead” and further requested that the CF include in their letter, words to the effect, that in the future, should the CF entertain any industrial activity in the watersheds, that the CF would consult with the residents before any work commences in the watershed.

Len agreed to this, so the meeting ended on quite a “high note” with the residents feeling that they had been heard and listened to and that in the future they would be able to provide the CF with input from the community and not be faced once again with having to take a stand to protect the drinking watersheds.

The residents decided to leave the protest signs and blockade materials at the site of the blockade until the residents receive “officially” the letter described above from the CF. However the blockade would remain “unmanned”

Once the residents receive the letter, then the blockade materials will be removed immediately.

We wish to thank everyone who was able to participate in both the protest rally and helped out at the actual blockade. Your efforts are very much appreciated by the community and it is comforting to know that our local government listened to our concerns, especially the Administrator for the DOS (Mr. Bill Brown) who kept his word to the residents, and was instrumental in arranging the meeting with the Mayor and the President of the Sechelt Community Forest.

A Big thank you to all

John Bebbington

PS: A member of the CF advisory committee e-mailed me these photo's this individual took when he visited the cut block to view the tree spacing work that had been underway prior to the blockade going up. SEE PICTURES