Jumbo Glacier opponents say day lodge built in avalanche zone
By Nelson Daily Staff
The ruling Liberals took it on the chin in the BC Legislature Tuesday after a heliski operating company said a poured concrete foundation for a day lodge of the Jumbo Glacier Resorts project is in an avalanche zone.
“Pouring the foundation for their day lodge in the path of class 4 avalanches isn’t the only violation of Jumbo’s certificate,” said Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall.
“The ministry of the environment did a preliminary look at just a fraction of the requirements attached to their certificate and found the company in violation of three other conditions.”
Jumbo Glacier Resorts have been busy trying to meet a provincial construction deadline before its government-issued environmental assessment certificate expired on October 12 for the proposed $1-billion year-round Jumbo Ski resort, which when completed will have 21 ski lifts, at least three lodges and accommodation for 6,500 people.
“The B.C. Liberals are very good at saying what people want to hear, then they do whatever they want,” said Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.
“That’s why they talk about the importance of having strong environmental laws, then allow the day lodge for this proposed resort to be built in the path of a potential avalanche, which is a direct contravention of the conditions of their environmental assessment certificate.”
Macdonald said company has shown it is unwilling or unable to follow even the most basic requirements imposed on them by their environmental assessment certificate. But instead of showing them the door, the B.C. Liberals continue rewarding this bad behavior by propping up their project.
But Environment Minister Mary Polak says the lodge has been moved out of the avalanche zone.
“Although they are near an avalanche zone, they are not in it,” Polak said.
“Resorts actively manage for avalanches and even knowing the zones, it doesn’t necessarily protect people. But the lodge has been moved to a location that is outside the avalanche zone.”
However, Mungall said the Liberals are sending the wrong message that “environmental assessment certificates are meaningless because there are no consequences for simply ignoring the rules.”
“Meanwhile, the B.C. Liberals go and tell the public how important it is to have world class environmental standards,” said Mungall. “They know what to say, but then they do what they want.”
