Park Management had indicated in previous television interviews that they believe the necessary consultation has already been completed by Waterton's 2000 Community Plan. Mrs. Fromm indicated that since that time, the public had also been consulted during the 2010 Park Management Planning process. She cited The Waterton Management Plan Key Actions Section 5.1.4 Bullet #3: “Investigate the feasibility of locating a new visitor centre at a site along the entrance road across from the Lake Linnet/Middle Waterton Lake day use area. This site will improve access for visitors, provide a positive welcome and sense of arrival, and mitigate impacts on the wildlife corridor in the area of the current visitor centre.” She explained that the current 2010 Management Plan explicitly states that it replaces the old 2000 Management & Community Plans, and that the area north of middle Waterton Lake would be a safe, accessible location for visitors, would not increase townsite congestion, and could provide the necessary parking and space for future expansion.
Of particular concern to many in attendance was the scoring matrix from the Site Study conducted by Jenkins Architecture, where Parks Canada had weighted public safety at 3.9 out of 100.
Mrs. Fromm stated, "Several years ago, Parks Canada management in Waterton spent hundreds of thousands of dollars studying the safety of the long-toed salamander and even built special underground tunnels for them to cross the road safely. How much time and money have they spent ensuring the safety of our children if the new Visitor Centre is built in the field next to the playground in the townsite? From Parks Canada's own website: 'Salamanders may be small, but they are not insignificant!' We think Waterton's young two-legged human visitors deserve as much consideration as our little four-legged amphibious friends."
Lesley Little, President of the Waterton Lakes Leaseholder's Association, cited a survey that they had done last fall of their own members, where 94% of those polled were opposed to Parks Canada's proposed location of the VRC in the townsite. She made it clear that there had not been adequate consultation with leaseholders and that her requests for public input had been ignored.
Leaseholder and working committee member Garry Ursenbach reviewed sites to be considered with a PowerPoint presentation showing relevant maps.
Gray Greenway, leaseholder and cottage owner, concluded the formal presentations focusing on the public's right to the physical data leading to the site selection in the townsite, as it is absent. He emphasized that Parks Canada has not followed due process and that the public has a right to this information.
Representatives of the Save the Waterton Field Initiative also met with Foothills MP, Mr. John Barlow, on Friday, May, 20th, and sent him off to Ottawa with approximately 1400 petition signatures, background information, and an explanation of the group's concerns. That same evening, at the Improvement District #4 meeting in Waterton, a delegation made presentations to the council with respect to the current situation regarding Parks Canada's proposed Visitor Reception Centre.
For more information visit:
#watertonfield #savethewatertonfield
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Comments are moderated before being published. Please be civil.