To the editor:
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) has offered a developer 44 acres within a Crown reserve at Bridge Lake for an island.
This exchange is precedent setting and puts at risk other Crown land and Crown reserves in British Columbia.
B.C. residents interested in preserving publicly-owned Crown land and Crown reserves within the province need to e-mail their opposition to this exchange immediately to MFLNRO Minister Steve Thomson and his staff.
In 2007, Julian Kenney, of Cariboo Heritage Land Developments Ltd., bought an island in Bridge Lake zoned RA1 (minimum lot size 80 acres) and proposed a 31 strata lot development. When this failed, Mr. Kenney proposed exchanging the island for land within a Crown reserve.
In spite of the fact this Crown reserve was set aside in 1945 “for the recreation and enjoyment of the public,” the MFLNRO announced in February 2011 that it has offered Mr. Kenney 44 acres within the reserve in exchange for the island. The ministry has broken its own guidelines in this decision, as “Land Procedures: Land Exchanges” states: “Land exchanges will be considered where there is a clear benefit to the Province and direct purchase of the land is not an option.”
The island is worth approximately $750,000, and Mr. Kenney has been offered it in a straight exchange for 44 waterfront acres within the Crown reserve worth, in the opinion of locals, at least $4 million.
Development in this area would negatively impact the environment at Bridge Lake, as an important wildlife corridor to the lake would be destroyed. Increased boat traffic would threaten nesting and breeding areas of birds and waterfowl.
Bridge Lake is classified as “highly sensitive,” as it takes 50 years to flush. Four small spring-fed streams, one near the proposed development, supply water to the lake.
This exchange is precedent setting and would put at risk other Crown land and Crown reserves. Developers would seek further opportunities to exchange privately owned land for areas within Crown land and Crown reserves.
Please help Friends of Bridge Lake by e-mailing your opposition to this exchange. Information can be found online at Friends of Bridge Lake.
Ann Blades
Surrey/Bridge Lake
