Where was the word mussel?

DEAR EDITOR:

I wish to respond to the “Abuse of Power” letter (Herald, Aug. 17).

The focus of this letter is zoning of the Oasis development and the permitted use: a marina. Previously, Summerland had a foreshore “head-lease agreement” with the province. This agreement gave council the ability, at a public meeting, to approve marina size, location, design, etc.

Traditionally, this agreement was renewed every 20 years. A previous council directed municipal staff to renew the agreement. But, within three weeks, staff did the exact opposite: cancel the agreement.

Yes, the Official Community Plan describes zoning, but it also describes environmental concerns (section 3.5.7 and 8.3.17). The foreshore of this development is the limited habitat of the Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel.

According to the B.C. government, this mussel is “one of the most endangered group of animals on earth,” Wisely, in 2015, municipal council directed staff to provide a report on this endangered animal. Council and the public are still waiting for that report.

In 2019, Council received the environmental report on the Oasis development. The primary focus of such reports is potential impact on fish habitat. The life cycle of the endangered mussel includes larvae attachment to fish gills. A healthy fish population enhances mussel habitat. Yet the word “mussel” is not found in this "environmental” report.

A primary objective of the Oasis development is an unobstructed foreshore with a marina. The “environmental" report provided an aerial photograph of the development which included a wharf. This aerial photograph was 20-years old and the wharf was removed in 2006.

We all make mistakes and perhaps the author of the “environmental” report could not find a more recent aerial photograph. Whatever the case, the site of the former wharf is being used as the site of an apparent new marina.

Information given to Council has been strangely one sided. A public hearing, disclosing all the information, is quite appropriate.

David Gregory

Summerland