SAVE A PORTION WHISTLER'S VILLAGE FOREST BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!!
Whistler's last urban forest (i.e. Lot 1/9) is slated to be cleared for the 2010 Celebration Plaza Park in early-mid April.
June 4, 2008
The destruction of the Village Forest has begun. Photo from the destruction taking place on Lot 1/9. Even as we speak, the last remaining trees are being cleared. See it for yourself.
Watch the Village Forest Tribute on YouTube:
COMMUNITY INFORMATION OPEN HOUSE ON LOTS 1 & 9:
As promised, the date has been set for the public's last thoughts and concerns on the Village Forest (i.e. Lot 1/9)
The Community Information Update is set for:
THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008
4 to 7 p.m. at the Whistler Public Library, Community Room
We hope that members of the Whistler community will be able to attend to clarify any outstanding questions they may have regarding:
- the final costs for the Celebration Plaza?
- the portion of trees that will be retained? (Clearcut?)
- the natural value of the trees and lack of any environmental assessment on the site?
- the lasting "community" legacies on the current forested site?
If you can't attend the open house, please email your thoughts and ideas to:
Martin Pardoe, RMOW, Manager Parks Planning mpardoe@whistler.ca (604) 935-8186
Mike Kirkegaard, RMOW, Manager Resort Planning mkirkegaard@whistler.ca (604) 935-8163
LATEST UPDATE ON TREE CLEAR CUTTING & April 7 Council Meeting:
Monday was an interesting and heated meeting with presentations from both Stephen Vogler, Whistler Watch and Drew Meredith, Lot 1/9 Task Force.
Councilor Tim Wake proposed an information meeting for the public to get informed on the Village Forest (Lot 1/) sometime in the week two weeks. We will inform residents as soon as the date is announced by the RMOW.
The question is... will the RMOW public meeting occur BEFORE or AFTER the trees come down??
Rumour has it that the trees will be coming down sooner than expected.
Keep checking Whistler's last remaining urban forest. The fencing and chainsaws are on their way!
VILLAGE FOREST PETITION UPDATE - April 1, 2008:
Whistler Watch delivered a total of 624 signatures to the RMOW this morning.
Our group will be making a presentation to the mayor & council on Monday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m.
VILLAGE FOREST LATEST UPDATE - March 27, 2008:
Dear Whistler residents,
Although the ornaments have been removed from the trees, this issue is far from over.
Members of Whistler Watch met with Martin Pardoe, Manager Resort Experience RMOW and Mayor Ken Melamed on March 27 to discuss the future of Lot 1/9 and to reach a compromise, whereby 1/3 to 50% of the Lot 1/9 trees could be spared, leaving a TRUE legacy for Whistler residents.
The future of the Village Forest has been contentious from the start. With a lack of proper community dialogue, this issue has turned into a "lightening rod" for the current level of dissatisfaction with the current RMOW administration and expenditure.
We would like to update Whistler residents on the status of the 2010 Celebration Plaza:
The RMOW's position is that: "We are committed to retaining a portion of the forest, however it must be understood that numerous variables need to be balanced in order to retain the trees..." To date however, at least three Whistler councilors have confirmed that the site will be clearcut
( = 100% of trees cut). The public has never given an exact percentage of the trees that will be retained.
Whistler Watch's petition states that "taxpayer" money is being wasted. The mayor reitereated that it's not taxpayer dollars - rather it's hotel tax revenue (which is paid by visiting taxpayers).
Mayor Melamed claims that this site will house a permanent celebrations plaza.
We heard that the forest was going to be cut the week of April 4/08, but Martin Pardoe promised that the trees won't come down for 3 -4 weeks (~April 18).
HERE IS WHAT ~$14 million is getting the community:
The report to council states: "..the most meaningful Games legacy will be the entire physical space as a venue from which experiences and memories will be based."
***$14 million will leave the community with a temporary Medals Plaza and gold-plated bleachers - no iconic roof and no skating rink!**
Project Phases:
Phase 1 Pre-Games: $11+ million (includes forest retention, site prep, infrastructure and site servicing, utility building, Live Site recognition, performance infrastructure, amphitheatre seating, plaza and terracing, gravel surfacing, construction and design, design fees, construction escalation to Oct 2009.
Phase 2 :Post Games Conversion I (summer 2010) $2.46 million This phase will include the building of the children's play area (pending funding availability).
Phase 3: Post Games Conversion 2 (skating rink and iconic roof - funding TBD) 2011
$59.3 million+ **here is no guarantee that the funding will be available for the rink or a cover.
There's a strong chance that with a cnew council, the required funding of $59 million will be prioritized and
used for more important amenities (i.e. a daycare?)
WHAT YOU CAN DO: TO DEMAND COMMUNITY DIALOGUE & ACCOUNTABILITY:
Write letters to the editor expressing your outrage over the lack of community dialogue and the lack of a true lasting legacy after 2010. edit@piquenewsmagazine and dburke@whistlerquestion.com.
