TimberWest's Latest Infamy
by Mary Desmond l Shawnigan Lake Watershed Watch Association
 Dear Readers; It is with heavy heart that I compose this message.
As some already are aware, VandalsWest, not content with the revenue obtained from their customary plundering of our community forests, are now bent on extending their perfidious pursuit of profit by putting up a substantial subdivision on the lower slopes of Mt. Wood, just below the railway line. The development would be quite extensive, reaching from from the orange gate on the cut off road [South Shawnigan, slightly beyond the leftover Hallowe'en pumpkin stretch that descends gradually to Sooke Lake Road] to the north end of Cigarmakers' Bay [right beside the well-finished driveway with the fancy lanterns on East Shawnigan Lake Road, directly across from Williams'].
This latest scheme is in addition to their equally invidious and heavily green washed plan [the ads. re: South Cowichan that appeared in local papers last fall] to develop a monstrous suburb [Karma? can't remember the exact spelling] below the Malahat Ridge in Area A.
After speaking with Mike Tippett of Development Services, who has actually visited the site, it is estimated that at least four dozen of the 73 lots permitted under the current zoning [R2] could be the final tally. Certain sites might not be feasible due to poor perc [septic percolation] capacity and other physical impediments. Nevertheless, this number will be damaging enough to ruin an expansive swathe of Mt. Wood that has been enjoyed by many in the community as a refuge for hiking, horse riding, and dog walking for the last century. [When I trudged up Mt. Wood from Dalziels' lane, I checked six perc pits and found that four were bone dry, one with only a little water, and the other still quite full].
Once again, we have been hamstrung by a fatally obsolete OCP, the revisions to which will not likely be signed into law for quite some time yet. When and if this document is ever completed, the damage will have been done. Any direction to curb the rampant suburbanisation that has ravaged this community will be too little, too late.
According to bureaucrats at the requisite ministry, OCPs should be reviewed approximately every FIVE YEARS in areas experiencing pronounced growth, or other dramatic changes in community land use. Thus, when Shawnigan began to experience noticeable "growth pains" during the period immediately following the creation of the 1986 OCP, why did the ADs incumbent during the early 1990's ignore the obvious need?
Alas, we are caught between a rock and a hard place regarding any viable ammunition to fight this project. The only action that can be taken is to write the MOT and express consternation at the possible exit/egress routes anticipated by VandalsWest. These are in highly unsuitable locations, one being the lane across from Daziels', around 1645 East Shawnigan Lake Road, and the other a little further south at Carter Road, about 1465 East Shawnigan Lake Road.
The lesser of all the evils under consideration would be to confine the official access road to the present logging road that begins at the orange gate on the cutoff, and extends the length of the cutblocks under threat of subdivision. This would be a far safer option, as a steep rock face at Carter Road obstructs the view of oncoming traffic from the south for exiting traffic, and the safety risk is similar at Dalziels' lane, which is situated by a curve. Drivers tend to accelerate here at quite a dangerous pace, and once again, visibility for northbound traffic isn't the best.
But, VandalsWest prefer the two East Shawnigan Lake Road accesses as it would cost the company more money should the South Shawnigan location be designated by Highways.
All the more reason to insist upon the latter site!
If this project succeeds, and I fear that it will, barring a miracle, then we shall have lost one of the best remaining walks left to us. Not only will a great deal of recreational greenspace be paved over, but wildlife habitat destroyed as well.
It seems somewhat ironic that these lots were harvested several years ago, and then replanted. The rate of regrowth has been fairly successful, with trees well above human height at the older cutblocks and tiny green tufts now sprouting up in the newer sections.
VandalsWest have no right to call themselves a "forestry" company. I very seldom have cause to travel to Victoria, but when I do, I am almost sick to my stomach viewing the travesties inflicted on the once serene and lovely landscape there. How can people who commute regularly stand it? From the felling of the beautiful Tolkienesque tree on the former Wickheim farmland to huge heaps of muddy rubble by the highway exit, it's just one long testament to tragedy.
I've been in touch with a couple of the neighbours near the proposed access routes [one of whom told me about the Carter Road proposal], and they've promised to send their objections to MOT. Still, it would be very helpful if others also sent notes insisting on the South Shawnigan Road access as EVERYONE who drives along the East Shawnigan Lake Road will be affected - and that's a significant amount of people!
Here is the contact info. for Ross Deveau at MOT:
Email: Ross.Deveau@gov.bc.ca
Fax: 250-952-4508
Although I did check with MOT re: this info. this morning, you can give Ross a call at 250-952-4511 if anything is incorrect.
However, I strongly recommend you send a written comment for the record. Ross usually handles Shawnigan files, and if he isn't doing so this time, he will forward your remarks to those who are.
All the best,
Mary
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