Opposition grows to quarry plan near Sumas park

A park is no place for a mine, say opponents of a proposed rock quarry on Crown land adjacent to Sumas Mountain Interregional Park.

On Friday, the Metro Vancouver board voted to join the growing opposition to a lease application submitted to the provincial Mines Ministry by a numbered company planning to develop a quarry for aggregate and decorative rock on the mountain. The company is seeking the removal of 59,000 tonnes each year for 10 years from a 10-hectare slice of land just outside the park, which is jointly managed by Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Regional District.

The 1,568-hectare park is a “biological hot spot” inhabited by at least 40 species at risk, including mountain beaver and red-legged frog, according to a report prepared by Metro Vancouver staff.

It is criss-crossed by a network of trails used by hikers and mountain bikers.

The Abbotsford Run for Water charity trail race also takes place on the mountain each spring.

“The primary park access over the forest service road is used by a number of recreationists that could be impacted by daily haulage traffic from the proposed quarry,” said the Metro Vancouver report.

Sumas Mountain is also significant to the Semá:th (Sumas) First Nation, which shares concerns about the proposed mine along with the City of Abbotsford and Fraser Valley Regional District.

On social media, mountain bikers and trail runners expressed fear the mine could ruin a “pristine” wilderness area.