Dear Editor:
I was recently contacted by a journalist in Vancouver and asked for my position on the proposed Banks Crescent Development.
I told him I oppose the development for numerous reasons, but mainly because I believe it will do irrevocable damage to the springs which supply the Summerland trout hatchery and, given the hatchery’s zero tolerance for increased turbidity or pollution, the consequences would be catastrophic.
A resource which generates $100,000,000 annually for the Okanagan through the stocking of 300 lakes would be lost.
In response to my comments, Kirk Fisher of Lark Group claimed that opponents of the development were misinformed, then claimed that Lark Group has a hydrological survey which shows the project will be built and operated with no damage to the springs.
If, as I believe, he was referencing Piteau Associates’ Hydrogeological Assessment, then it is Mr. Fisher himself who is misinformed because this report offers no such guarantee.
It is at best a hypothetical, containing unproven assumptions, which addresses only a fraction of the potential “What ifs” surrounding the construction and operation of the project.
Piteau acknowledges the limitation of the assessment by simply refusing to warranty it, and distancing itself from any claim for damages should a third party choose to act on it, a disclaimer which would include those claiming damages from that third party.
Such claims would obviously be directed at Lark Group, but might also involve Summerland council for its failure to exercise due diligence by rezoning the land and allowing the development to proceed.
I say this because due diligence requires more than simply accepting a developer’s claims at face value when there are clear grounds to question them.
Common sense would decree that you can not place a massive nine story structure on unstable land, above an uncharted water course, within metres of its surface springs, then introduce the pollution that goes with 600 people and their vehicles, and reasonably claim there will be zero effect on those springs for the entire life of the complex.
Need I add that Lark Group’s own Geotechnical Report tells us that the final assessment of land stability only be made by an RGC engineer after “ foundations and excavation work is completed.”
Given the obvious level of risk and the total absence of any evidence based guarantee from Lark Group that Shaughnessy Springs and the Trout Hatchery will not be negatively effected by the BCD, I believe Summerland council should refuse the rezoning application.
Eric Tait
Summerland
