Area F residents would vote for Jumbo Wild, survey suggests
Friday, November 16, 2007 Page 2
The Daily Townsman
The Daily Bulletin
REGIONAL DISTRICT
By DEAN BASSETT
Townsman Staff
CRANBROOK ‑ If folks living near the Jumbo Glacier have any thing to say about a resort development in their backyard the slogan is clearly, "Jumbo: Wild Forever."
On Thursday, the Regional District of East Kootenay released the results of the Jumbo survey which clearly indicate respondents living near the proposed ski Jumbo Glacier Resort don't want it.
"Residents needed to have a say," said RDEK Director Lillian Rose, who represents the rural area around Invermere. "This survey was the only forum currently available for Area F people to have a voice and register their opinion on this important development proposal."
A total of 643 Area F residents are against the Jumbo development, while 173 support it. Of the 1084 surveys sent in to the regional district 268 were invalid responses.
The survey asked a simple question "Doyou support theJumbo Glacier Resort development proceeding?" The survey was carried out by the RDEK to allow residents and property owners of Electoral Area F, wholive next to the area in question, to formally register their view on Glacier Resorts Ltd. developing a year‑round ski resort in the Jumbo Creek valley west of Invermere.
"My gut feeling was that the results would be more evenly split," Rose said. "I was surprised that wasn't the case."
The survey included a comment section, which is of particular interest to Rose.
She intends on spending today and the first part of next week sifting through the comments.
"I'll be quantifying the concerns," Rose said. "Right now it's painted as the environment versus economic development but I think it's much more complex than that,"
All of this information will help Rose draft a letter to the province.
The letter will be attached to the Jumbo Resort file in Victoria to formally register local opposition to the project.
"These results are not surprising," said Wildsight spokesperson Kat Hartwig. "They reflect what Wildsight has articulated all along,"
Although resort promoters have consistently stated there is enormous support for their development, these results are evidence to the contrary.
"Where are all the resort supporters?" Hartwig asked rhetorically. "The survey results clearly show an unmistakable and strong majority of residents opposed to this mega resort."
Wildsight also sees these results as an encouraging democratic stride for the region.
"The RDEK and those who voted should be commended for their commitment and courage," Hartwig said. "If democracy really works in our region, then we look forward to seeing this resort development halted."
Wildsight is urging that steps are taken to act upon the concerns of the majority of citizens.
Jumbo Glacier Resort is a proposed year round ski resort located at the foot of JumboMountain and Jumbo Glacier ‑ 55 km west of Invermere.
The resort, centred on a former sawmill site, will provide lift‑serviced access to several nearby glaciers at an elevation of up to 11,155 feet. The resort is planned in three phases and will ultimately include 5,500 bed‑units (plus 750 beds for staff accommodations) in a 104 hectare resort base area. At build‑out, the resort will see 2,000 to 3,000 visitors in high season.
In winter, the resort will offer 1,700 metres 5,500 feet of 100 per cent natural snow vertical. In summer, up to 2,300 feet of glacier skiing vertical will be available.
At full build‑out, the proposed $450 million resort would provide approximately 3,750 person years of construction employment and create 750 to 800 permanent full‑time jobs.
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