Say "NO" to Tidal Harmony Holdings Re-zoning Application

Why CERCA opposes re-zoning Crown Leases in the Heart of the Cowichan Estuary in favour of Industry.In 1990 Canadian National Railroad stopped its operations in Cowichan Bay and transferred the  731 acres estuary property including the six forestry-related leases subject to the current re-zoning application to the Ministry of Environment. Since then all forestry-related activities associated with the six Leases have ceased to exist. Some have been abandoned for decades, others alienated and used for industrial activities that are not in compliance with existing CVRD bylaws, the Estuary Management Plan nor the OCP from 2012 for this area. In late 2016 Western Forest Products/Tidal Harmony Holdings which had assumed the Leases from the defunct Forestry Companies in the 1990s applied for re-zoning to legalize activities that have been in non-compliance for years. The current manufacturing operations by Pacific Industrial Marine LTD are taking place under a Sub-Lease that never has been approved by the Government as required.  These operations could easily be trans-located onto an area within the CVRD that is properly zoned for this type of manufacturing industry, to be achieved without any job loss to the operator and with greater benefits to the community.Stepping back in history: the Cowichan Estuary Environmental Management Plan was ratified by Order in Council in 1986. It was triggered over grave concerns  by the DFO and the Environment Ministry about alarming environmental impacts on the Cowichan Estuary by mostly forestry-related activities. The Plan was considered the best compromise between economic interests and Environmental Stewards at the time.Today, 31 years after ratification of the Plan: No more shipment of lumber or forestry-related products out of Cowichan Bay, the Westcan dock falling apart, all Forest Companies related to the six Westcan Leases gone, their former leases dormant or alienated for years. The world now is different than 30 years ago! So are the changes in local demographics and resident perceptions on the future of the Cowichan Estuary as reflected by the award winning Official Community Plan (Area D 2102) envisioning an estuary managed for conservation and tourism as the economic driver of the valley. The Management Plan and other official documents clearly state that all industrial leases not used any longer for their allocated purpose should be returned to the Ministry of Environment for wildlife habitat management. Re-zoning to allow for industrial manufacturing and legalizing what until now has not been in compliance, would throw us back into the dark ages. For this reason CERCA strongly opposes the re-zoning application and requests the return of abandoned leases to the Ministry of Environment for conservation management as stipulated by the Estuary Management Plan.Dr. Goetz SchuerholzChair CERCA