Government asked: Extend public consultation on moving the Kootenay Lake ferry terminal
By Nelson Daily Staff
In the wake of the recent push by the Marine Branch of Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to deal with the changes to the ferry terminal at Balfour, Kootenay Lake residents and businesses have asked the ministry to extend its public consultation process on moving the Kootenay Lake ferry terminal to Queens Bay.
The request follows the recent open house sponsored by the ministry that was attended by hundreds of locals, most of them opposed to the move.
“For a proposed project of this importance to our communities a consultation period of less than a month is way too short,” said John Betts speaking on behalf of the Queens Bay Residents’ Association.
Betts, in a media release, indicated people were shocked by the sudden revelation, last week, that the Ministry had completed a technical report recommending moving the ferry terminal to the north end of Queens Bay.
The project involves the destruction of half a kilometer of popular and pristine shoreline — converting it to a parking lot for ferry traffic.
In calling for the consultation extension businesses pointed out that there are numerous and critical omissions in the current technical report.
“The study is slanted and biased toward one option – Queens Bay – without considering the environmental, economic and social implications,” said Robin Goldsbury speaking on behalf of Balfour Ferry Landing Businesses.”
According to both groups very little of the report fairly considers the option to keep the facility in Balfour and the benefits associated with that. Nor does it frame any mitigation strategies that may be required due to the impacts from the proposed move they said
“Holding an open house and setting up an on line survey is hardly a substitute for a complete socio-economic analysis of the impacts of moving the ferry,” said Betts.
The community groups are recommending the Ministry set up a phased consultation process including public workshops supported by clear guidelines on how public opinion will be considered in any final decisions.
They pointed out that for the Ministry to make a proper and enduring decision they need vital information and insights from the community, things the current process may not produce. At the same time for any decision to be legitimate the community has to feel its concerns were fairly addressed.
Anyone who did not attend Wednesday’s Open House or failed to complete the surveys can still do so at this link.
The survey remains open until 6 p.m. on July 6, 2016.
More information on the proposed changes can be viewed at this MOTI link.
