Fifty people and four city councillors were demonstrating in North Vancouver today against the possible expansion of the Richardson Terminal on the North Shore.
The demonstrators are worried about how the possible expansion of the port will affect their neighbourhood and possibly decrease their property values.’
Port Metro Vancouver, who will ultimately decide if the expansion can go ahead has said the claims are unfounded.
Residents who live in the Lower Lonsdale East neighbourhood of North Vancouver say hundreds of trees have been cut down, which were cleared to make way for transmission lines.
Residents say they were told this only a few weeks ago.
This is all part of the Low Level Road Project, which is designed to enhance rail and port operations to expand the port.
Council approved the Low Level Road, but claimed the city didn’t know that clearcutting would take place.
The residents say they were told about the clearcutting but say all this happened so suddenly.
“I think all of the citizens of Vancouver have reached a tipping point,” said one concerned resident. “We just can’t take any more of this destruction of our neighbourhoods, destruction of our property values, undisclosed information and no public consultation.”
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Full statement from the Port of Metro Vancouver:
Port Metro Vancouver takes the concern of residents very seriously.
We will consider the concerns outlined by the residents today and respond directly to them. On February 22, 2013, BC Hydro issued a notice of works to residents and also provided notification of a public drop-in meeting hosted by BC Hydro to discuss the work. The public drop-in meeting was held on March 6, 2013. BC Hydro’s notice can be found here: http://porttalk.ca/document/show/249
About the Low Level Road project: (video of future road here: http://porttalk.ca/videos/8?project_id=2&client_id=1 )
The Low Level Road Project is part of a broader investment and improvement strategy on behalf of the Government of Canada, Province of British Columbia, Port Metro Vancouver, TransLink, the City and District of North Vancouver and the private sector. The strategy is designed to facilitate projected growth to meet international trade demands while maximizing benefits and minimizing impacts on local communities.
As a primary east-west route for the North Shore, the importance of the Low Level Road has long been reflected in community and transportation plans. Improvements on this road are required to improve safety and better accommodate the needs of all users including cyclists and pedestrians.
The Project is important to Port Metro Vancouver because it provides for more efficient operations for its tenants and provides community benefits for the City of North Vancouver. These benefits include minimizing noise impacts from Port operations, a permanent solution to unstable cut slopes above the existing road and completion of the Spirit Trail between St. Georges Avenue and Kennard Avenue.
Key elements of the project include:
• Elevating the Low Level Road and realigning it to the north
• Providing space for two new rail tracks to improve rail operation efficiency
• Eliminating three existing at-grade rail crossings
• Providing intersection and road safety
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