Missions proposed 'Interpretive Forest'
Today, the I attended a meeting arranged by the District of Mission at Zajac Ranch. The topic of discussion was the proposed change of Missions Tree Farm License 26 to an 'Interpretive Forest'. This would allow Mission to arrange organized recreation in the West Stave Lake and Burma Road area.
The agenda of this meeting was to explore all of the desired recreation in the area in the view of all of the stakeholders. Those stakeholders included the Katzie First Nation and Sttailes First Nation (formerly Chehalis), District of Mission, Mayor of Mission James Atebe, many Mission District reps, Four Wheel Drive Association of BC, Recreation Sites and Trails, Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resouce Operations, Tourism BC, Aboriginal Tourism BC, Snowmobiler rep, Haney Horseman, Chilliwack River Horseman, Geocacher rep, private interests rep, Tim Hortons Childrens Fund rep, Trans-Canada Trails, amongst others. Suffice it to say, a very broad cross section of back country users and governing organizations.
This proposal is still in it's formative stages. There are no firm dates on this proposal or direction as to when large changes will take place. Tim Horton's is planning a camp at Boulder Bay/Pine Lake area where the old correctional site was. Again, they need boundary extensions and zoning changes on that site so nothing in a couple of years probably. We can expect continued road improvements and changes in the near term and long term.
The Four Wheel Drive Association of BC raised three items that wheelers have interest in. One was 'mud bogging' and the flats area, the second was a designated 'rock crawling' area, and the third dealt with some access issues. I made it known that we support having a designated area for 'mud bogging' and the flats were an obvious choice and presented some reasons why. Rock crawling is also a popular sport as well as a growing sport. A designated area for this activity would make perfect long term sense, especially in West Stave so close to the large population of the GVRD.
My impression is that the outdoor community is near unanimous in supporting recreation opportunities to the local population before any commercial recreation opportunities. The commercial cannot override our own recreational interestes. This argument was heard clearly and I was encouraged to see most planners and deciders in gov't agreeing.
I came out of it all quite encouraged.
Today, the I attended a meeting arranged by the District of Mission at Zajac Ranch. The topic of discussion was the proposed change of Missions Tree Farm License 26 to an 'Interpretive Forest'. This would allow Mission to arrange organized recreation in the West Stave Lake and Burma Road area.
The agenda of this meeting was to explore all of the desired recreation in the area in the view of all of the stakeholders. Those stakeholders included the Katzie First Nation and Sttailes First Nation (formerly Chehalis), District of Mission, Mayor of Mission James Atebe, many Mission District reps, Four Wheel Drive Association of BC, Recreation Sites and Trails, Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resouce Operations, Tourism BC, Aboriginal Tourism BC, Snowmobiler rep, Haney Horseman, Chilliwack River Horseman, Geocacher rep, private interests rep, Tim Hortons Childrens Fund rep, Trans-Canada Trails, amongst others. Suffice it to say, a very broad cross section of back country users and governing organizations.
This proposal is still in it's formative stages. There are no firm dates on this proposal or direction as to when large changes will take place. Tim Horton's is planning a camp at Boulder Bay/Pine Lake area where the old correctional site was. Again, they need boundary extensions and zoning changes on that site so nothing in a couple of years probably. We can expect continued road improvements and changes in the near term and long term.
The Four Wheel Drive Association of BC raised three items that wheelers have interest in. One was 'mud bogging' and the flats area, the second was a designated 'rock crawling' area, and the third dealt with some access issues. I made it known that we support having a designated area for 'mud bogging' and the flats were an obvious choice and presented some reasons why. Rock crawling is also a popular sport as well as a growing sport. A designated area for this activity would make perfect long term sense, especially in West Stave so close to the large population of the GVRD.
My impression is that the outdoor community is near unanimous in supporting recreation opportunities to the local population before any commercial recreation opportunities. The commercial cannot override our own recreational interestes. This argument was heard clearly and I was encouraged to see most planners and deciders in gov't agreeing.
I came out of it all quite encouraged.
