Page 6 THE EXPRESS August 23, 1995 Castlegar seeks I MORELETTERS Continued from page 4 Christina Lake Ratepayers Association and then the class foreign investors have arrived. Crownland □ Industrial Park expansion on table Official Christina Lake Community Plan for all of its residents, in a sane and reasonable manner, seems to have been of little avail to date, in preserv- ing Christina Lake. They propose a large, all-season resort develop- ment to be built in stages despite these facts: This is an essential grizzly denning and mountain goat kidding location; The question is, why can 55 million of our tax The entire area has, for many years, been pro- by Alexa Pongracz The need for land became an dollars be spent to protect large tracts of land as posed by various groups and individuals as a wild CASTLEGAR - A proposal issue in 1995 when the majori- parks and to restrict logging, as in the Lower corridor between the Purcell Wilderness to rezone about 20 acres of ty of land available in the MainJand and on Vancouver Island and NO CON- Conservancy and the Bugaboos to the north. Crown land across Highway Industrial Park was sold. The SlDERA TION given to the preservation of the Furthermore, how much will this cost the public 22 from Castlegar's Industrial Castlegar and District Christina Lake/Boundary area before it is too late? after the proponents' initial investment? Park could create large parcels Development Board gets four We need to do everything in our means to protect Say "no" to the Jumbo Glacier Resort. The dead- of land for potential develop- or five inquiries per month the good and safe water quality of our lake. line for final public input is Sept. 20. ers. from developers interested in J. C. Hall, chair, Christina Lake Rowena Eloise, Argenta, "The piece is highly desir- large parcels of land. Ratepayers Association for Friends of Glacier Creek able," said Castlegar City "At first there was a general Administrator Jim Gustafson. sense of relief when the lots Just say "no" to resort BC Parks should be "It's got good highway sold," he said, "and then the frontage. It's in the middle of a realization: We have no com- proposal, says reader commended trading area of sixty, seventy mercial/light industrial proper- Dear Editor, thousand. There are a lot of ty for larger developments," Magnificent, incredible, awesome, marvellous, Dear Editor, things going for that particular said Richard Maddocks, the gorgeous, wonderful, breathtaking, uplifting, hum- Our family of four have recently returned parcel of land." development board's executive bling, and beautiful beyond words. from a camping holiday where we stayed for The City of Castlegar cur- director. The place is high in the alpine. We 're standing in several nights at the BC Parks Kokanee Creek rently has first option on the "We've run into a situation a field of wild flowers. Atop the pass, we're totally campground near your community. property. B.C. Lands has hired where if we're not able to pro- surrounded by glaciers and rugged mountain tops - We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would the City's water and sewer vide suitable serviced land for the Cleaver, Bastille Mountain, Commander like to comment on the quality of the interpretive engineers, Kerr, Wood and commercial/light industrial Glacier, Starbird Glacier, Glacier Dome, Jumbo programs provided by BC Parks staff every Leidel, to analyze the feasibili- development, we're going to Mountain, tl1eLake of the Hanging Glacier and, my evening at the campground. ty and cost of servicing the lose these business opportuni- favourite, the Horseshoe Glacier, just to name a One, in particular, featured a program on birds property. ties to other areas," he said. few. of prey by Caroline Masson was simply out- "The property is unserviced, "Economic conditions tend to We signed the registry at the trailhead so they standing. In addition to the educational message, and it's going to be expensive be cyclical and when good will count us low impact visitors. We have hiked up she incorporated humour and audience participa- to service that piece of proper- times come along you've got an easy-to-follow trail. There are a few steep places tion involving both young and old. My wife, a ty because everything is on the to be ready for them. The but good footing. Some make a day hike of it, but fonner teacher, commented afterwards that it other side of the highway." opportunity for a community we're staying several days to climb and explore. was "the perfect lesson." Gustafson said. "Getting those to grow doesn't come along all There are many places to camp. We were so impressed by this presentation services across the highway is the time. You've got to seize We're some of those people who just love Nature that we couldn't help but speculate on the merit not going to be cheap.'' the opportunity." in her true wild state. Our hearts soar and you of taking these programs to a wider audience in The engineers' report should At the request of exclaim. "May wonders never cease," as the snowy our elementary and secondary schools. be completed sometime in Development Board members, owl flies over us. And there's the grizzly knocking In the final analysis, education about our envi- September. Gustafson said it B.C. Lands officjals are asking over rocks looking for rodents. This huge area is ronment is critical to sustaining our lifestyle, and was important that potential the public for comments on the vital habitat - biodiversity on display. indeed our survival. BC Parks is to be com- purchasers know what it would potential expansion of the In the distance choppers approach. The intmsive mended for its efforts to further this objective. cost them to service the prop- Industrial Park onto Crown sound is shocking in this cathedral of nature. Who We hope others have appreciated these pro- erty if it becomes available. land. are these people? Oberto Oberti, president of grams as much as we have. Pheidias Project Development Corp. and the world Harvey and Betty Gee, Vernon • A FairShare. The 8.C. government is negotiating treaties with aboriginal people. Currently, aboriginal people registered as "status Indians" under the Indian Act are exempt from some provincial and federal taxes. The signing of treaties should eliminate the need for this special tax status and as part of the treaty process, the limited exemptions will be phased out. Fair, affordable, long-term solutions for all British Columbians. It's our commitment. For more information, call 1- 800-880-1022 or write to: Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs 908 Pandora Avenue, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 Government of British Columbia ~