亚洲天堂 Lake council members will soon put pressure on the provincial government to take action on a 亚洲天堂 Lake brownfield site that鈥檚 been under remediation for almost 25 years.
鈥淚f this property was located in Vancouver, it would鈥檝e been dealt with already,鈥� said councillor Susan Schienbein during a recent council meeting.
Located on the corner of Francois Lake Drive and Hwy. 35 in 亚洲天堂 Lake, the site was found to be contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons in the 1990s. Long-term exposure to these chemicals can have significant health effects, including, but not limited to, cancer.
Although the eight acre site is located adjacent to 亚洲天堂 Lake, the province says the lake is unaffected by the contamination. Meanwhile remediation efforts - including soil excavation and the installation of a groundwater containment system - have been undertaken since 1993.
During the upcoming Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention, 亚洲天堂 Lake council members will meet with provincial ministers to discuss the length of time this remediation is taking and ask how much longer this site will take to be fully remediated.
During the 2017 UBCM, which will take place on Sept. 25-29, council will also meet with ministers discuss 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 impending annual allowable cut (AAC) reduction and its social and economic impacts on the community.
After 2020, the 亚洲天堂 Lake Community Forest (BLCF) and the Chinook Community Forest will represent only a portion of the log supply required to keep Babine Forest Products and Decker Lake Forest Products operating. While the BLCF鈥檚 AAC is expected to drop from 225,000 to 63,000 cubit metres in 2020, Chinook鈥檚 AAC will decline from 150,000 to 65,000 cubic meters.
Another topic of discussion during the upcoming convention will be internet connectivity in the 亚洲天堂 Lake region.
鈥淎s broadband internet connectivity is an important economic development driver for 亚洲天堂 Lake, council will be discussing the importance of ensuring connectivity in the region is expanded,鈥� explained 亚洲天堂 Lake Mayor Chris Beach.
鈥淏roadband connectivity allows local businesses to remain competitive, it supports education and enhances the delivery of public services to residents, as well as provides residents with a gateway to information,鈥� he added.
Council has requested to meet with the ministers of finance, jobs, transportation, heath, and forests, as well as with Green Party leader Andrew Weaver to discuss these topics.
Mayor Beach is the only council member confirmed to be attend UBCM so far.
