by Wildcoast.ca
Environmentalists purchase mining rights for controversial Juan
de Fuca resort properties
Vancouver developer Ender Ilkay, owner of the Marine Trail Resort
group of companies, has racked up thousands of travel miles in pursuit
of his Vancouver Island real-estate development dream.
Ilkay's seven properties - publicly-managed forestlands until
2008 - straddle the slopes just above Juan de Fuca Trail between
China Beach and Sombrio Beach, on the ocean side of Highway 14. An
army of consultants has filed dozens of reports supporting his plan to
build nearly 300 vacation homes and a resort on the boundary of Juan
de Fuca Park.
At the same time, regional directors have heard dire predictions
that if they vote against the resort application, Ilkay could open a
mining operation on the park border.
But that will prove to be difficult, if not impossible. Last
week, local environmentalists bought the mineral rights to almost all
of Ilkay's properties.
Zoe Blunt announced today that allies of Forest Action Network
have secured mining tenures on 400 hectares of Marine Trail Holdings
and surrounding land along Juan de Fuca Marine Trail Park.
"If anyone decides to start hauling gravel, we have the
right to stop and inspect every load. We own all the minerals in the
ground," Blunt said. "The law also provides that the free
miner's agents can enter the property for prospecting
purposes."
Blunt suggested mineral tenures could provide community members
with forest-friendly employment. "Park-lovers across the Capital
Regional District should rest assured: The free miners have pledged to
protect the forest. There's no danger that an open-pit mine will
degrade this beautiful wilderness trail."
In 2008, free miners used the same tactic at Bear Mountain Resort
in Langford, where developers destroyed historic caves and ran up a
ten-million-dollar municipal debt. Then the bottom fell out of the
luxury home market. When the landowners let their mining tenures
lapse, local environmentalists snatched them up.
Blunt said the Bear Mountain and Marine Trail developers were
"sloppy."
"These hotshots talk about putting together deals worth
hundreds of millions, and they don't even secure the subsurface rights
on their own land," she scoffed. "We did it online in a half
hour. It cost $150."
Talk about clearcutting the properties is another empty threat,
Blunt warned. "This is second-growth timber. It would cost more
to cut and haul it than it's worth. And 70% of the land is either too
steep or too wet to log."
Blunt said she will be consulting with elders of the Pacheedaht
First Nation about the mining claim. The mining tenures could be
transferred to another group next year.
Free miner on Bear Mountain (credit Ingmar Lee)
For immediate release - April 4, 2011
Contact: Zoe Blunt
250-813-3569 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 250-813-3569 end_of_the_skype_highlighting zoe@wildcoast.ca
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Hotline: 250-813-3569 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 250-813-3569 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Email: Zoe@WildCoast.ca
