Editor, The News:
We have been residents of Wildwood Crescent South for the past 28 years. During that time, we have noticed phenomenal changes, from Joyner Place, Bonson’s landing and osprey developments, among others.
We initially loved the wilderness here, with all the wildlife and quietness. But you can’t stop progress, such as the Golden Ears Bridge. We understand that.
We went to council meetings to find out what was going on, only to be stymied most of the time about how TransLink was going to address the culvert elevations and drainage, among other issues.
During the excavation of the Katzie Slough area, behind out house, I was down there every day talking to the workers. I learned how the riparian developments would bring back fish and fowl. As much as I was concerned about the probability of a mosquito breeding ground, I was interested in how this area would enhance our area.
In 28 years here, we have had maybe one year when mosquitoes were a pest.
When we moved here, if you went down the bank behind our house, you would be knee-deep in water.
Now you can walk there in running shoes. If mosquitoes were a problem, we’re sure it would have happened years ago.
When the tributary finally opened, it was great. About 7,000 trees and shrubs were planted, and wildlife returned. Then a number of residents got upset about a beaver dam, and it was removed.
The water level went down almost a metre. Wildlife has since disappeared, basically, and the slough has become a mud flat.
All that work, planting all those plants (which are now overgrown with tall grass), has been a waste of taxpayer’s money.
Larry Kilpatrick
Pitt Meadows
