After hearing of all the controversy surrounding
Rossland's proposed golf course, I'm surprised that there is little public knowledge about Silver Star Mountain Resort's new golf course under construction. It is approximately 14 km from Lumby (see Golf Course Location aerial photo) on the Deafies Creek Road (turn off from Trinity Valley Road) at 356547E and 5577900N (UTM units). The fairways are currently being logged in the Controlled Recreation Area, which used to be part of Silver Star Provincial Park. The resort has erected "No Trespassing" signs at the boundary of the Controlled Recreation Area to keep the public out of the former Provincial Park. A 6 km road has been constructed from the sewage lagoons at Silver Star to the golf course area, and preparations are being made to install a sewage effluent line for irrigating the golf course.
The resort also has
constructed a large water reservoir near Paradise camp (see photo), and is currently extensively modifying the topography (see Paradise camp earthwork photo) above the reservoir in order to funnel meltwater into it next spring. Due to the large number of vacant lots (waiting for approved water supply from the new reservoir) at the resort, and several unfinished excavations, a late spring runoff contributed to significant soil erosion affecting several drainages including BX Creek, Vance Creek, and Putnam Creeks. I don't know how closely the development is monitored for environmental impacts as construction progresses. Due to the Clean Water Act in the U.S., resort development is more closely monitored (see this example at
Tamarack Resort).
To expand the capacity of it's privately operated sewage treatment lagoons, the resort will use treated effluent to irrigate the golf course, and is currently upgrading it's sewage treatment system to use
effluent for snowmaking, possibly so that the sewage lagoon can be drained down in the winter. According to Ministry of Environment officials, the current sewage lagoons are operating at 80% capacity. The resort has a permit to irrigate the forest surrounding the sewage lagoons with domestic sewage (see Effluent Irrigation photos). The lowest sewage lagoon exfiltrates into the Vance Creek and Deafies Creek drainages.
Mount Hotham in Australia (formerly owned by the Schumann family) is
currently using effluent for snowmaking.
Sun Peaks in Kamloops is also using effluent for snowmaking, despite
many potential public health risks.
The wastewater treatment system at the resort incorporates primary screening, a trickling filter/extended aeration unit, and a 25 million gallon exfiltration pond. It should be noted that cold winter (when most of the sewage is produced) temperatures
reduce the effectiveness of this method in outdoor treatment facilities.
It is surprising that despite a massive increase in water supply due to the new reservoir, the lagoons do not appear to be slated for any expansion. Canadians on average, use
343 litres of water per person per day , so if Silver Star resort eventually reaches buildout at 16,000 bed units, peak periods could produce enough sewage to entirely fill the 25 million gallon exfiltration pond every 21 days! i.e. - (25,000,000x4.55) / (16,000x343) . Perhaps this is the rationale for implementing snowmaking using treated sewage.
Extensive real estate developments are planned for the former park, and now that the resort has increased it's uphill skier carrying capacity, it can negotiate release of crown land inside the former park for developing exclusive vacation properties,
paying as little as $5,000 per acre (plus timber value). Expansion of the Kelowna Airport and lengthening of it's runways will allow direct international flights from Europe to Kelowna, making exclusive 2nd homes within the former park attractive to well-heeled international travellers.
Intensive marketing in affluent foreign countries helps to drive up real estate values (and thus developers' profits) inside the former park, as potential investors can
shop for properties on their personal computers. Many foreign investors can also purchase 2nd homes outside the resort area, thus driving up local real estate prices, essentially resulting in unaffordable housing for local young families.
"As the Minister is aware, we have negotiated for some time to have this park turned over to the regional district for administration. I would like to make public - because I've stood beside the Minister, or asked him to stand beside me - that we are in complete agreement that when the administration of this park is turned over to the regional district, there must be an ironclad agreement that no housing development can take place within that park - no condominiums, no living accommodation.
The park is only 14 miles from the centre of downtown Vernon. It is an excellent road, and highly accessible. If we allow living accommodation to any degree within that park, it is only a matter of time when people would have $20,000 or $30,000 or $40,000 invested in a recreational cottage and they would demand to live there year round. It would make a demand in terms of developing sewers, water, light, fire protection. I would like to say in speaking to that demand which would be imposed that it would be used as an excuse to utilize those facilities for year-round living for families.
I know the Minister stands with me; at least I believe he has come to believe that I am right. I shall stand unilaterally, unalterably opposed to the development of living accommodations in that park, whether it's under the direction of the provincial government or the regional district."
Here we are 33 years later with plans for 16,000 beds (currently about 4,000) and more exclusive real estate developments in the former park.
I am submitting this information because I believe development occurring on public lands should be a very open and transparent process. In fact, the All Season Resort Guidelines prepared for the provincial government, as well as the Best Practices Guide For Resort Development in British Columbia requires resort proponents to openly communicate with all stakeholders regarding proposed developments. The impacts on local watersheds, Silver Star Provincial Park, wildlife, public health, traffic corridors (Silver Star Road), social and community impacts, etc. are potentially extensive. I have not seen any information in the media about the golf course or the resort's plans for using effluent for irrigation and snowmaking.
Given the sensitive sub-alpine environment that the resort developments are occurring in, it would be comforting to know that an Environmental Assessment Revue had been completed to ensure that impacts on wildlife and water quality are minimized. Has such a revue been completed?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is a major difference between spray irrigating bottom lands as opposed to irrigating high elevation alpine environment. On bottom lands it is easy to control movements of the sprayed wastewater. Do it on top of the mountain and nobody knows whose drinking water is enriched by the mountain folks' generosity. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing!
**********************************************************************************
No comments:
Post a Comment