Save the West Creek Wetlands
Let me introduce you to a special plot of land, approximately 90 acres in size, in the middle of Gloucester Industrial Estates.
Located at the headwaters of West Creek and Nathan Creek, this undeveloped piece of land contains numerous wetlands, a number of red and yellow-coded tributaries to West Creek, and one tributary to Nathan Creek.
DFO officials describe West Creek as one of the most important streams South of the Fraser for fish, including Coho Salmon and Cutthroat Trout (1, 2).
Unfortunately, the fish-bearing capacity of West Creek and Nathan Creek have been under threat from development for some time. Both were designated as sensitive streams in provincial legislation over two decades ago. Since then West Creek in particular has lost significant spawning and rearing areas due to ongoing development in Gloucester. Development which has resulted in the diversion of West Creek through several kilometres of pipe.
Locals generally refer to these lands, which also provide habitat to a number of non-fish species such as beavers, muskrats, coyotes, deer and waterfowl, by one of two names. The West Creek Wetlands, based on the environmental features described above, or the Golf Course Lands, due to how the land is zoned municipally.
Both names may soon become anachronisms if a rezoning application, seeking to convert significant portions of this area to industrial land, is approved.
Aerial photo showing the lands Beedie Group proposes to re-zone from golf course to industrial (outlined in turquoise). Wetlands are clearly visible in the aerial photo. Creeks are highlighted in red and yellow based on their coding (red = fish bearing; yellow = significant source of food, nutrient or cool water supplies to downstream fish populations).
The Township of Langley appears likely to approve a rezoning application that will result in paving significant portions of the West Creek Wetlands.
Beedie Group owns the land and is applying to convert 36 acres of it to industrial use. If approved, the land lift from this deal will generate over a $100 million dollars in private wealth for Beedie Group and $14 million in CACs for the Township. Developer and political interests are clearly aligned here. The CACs can’t hurt Contract with Langley’s ability to pay for their many campaign promises but the golf course lands were intended to provide a significant community amenity for the people in Gloucester - not for a RCMP detachment in Brookswood or a swimming pool in Yorkson.
To date, no assessments have been completed to consider what the impacts of increasing the impermeability of the surrounding area while also putting more of West Creek through a pipe might be. It is my opinion that several environmental assessments (including an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan, a Biodiversity Assessment, and a Cumulative Effects Assessment) need to be completed before this area is rezoned. It is the only way we can have a modicum of confidence that future development won’t kill the fish-bearing capacity of West Creek.
We can create more industrial building space on the industrial land we already have!
Instead of allowing what remains of our creeks and wetlands to be further degraded, the Township of Langley could be supporting intensification and densification of existing industrial land. One way to densify is to go multi-level, like in the case of the Riverbend Business Park in Burnaby – a multi-level industrial building with loading on both levels.
Riverbend Industrial Park in Burnaby - a multi-level industrial building with loading on both levels.
So will you join me in voicing opposition to the destruction of the West Creek Wetlands? Here’s how you can help:
Sign the petition.
Email your concerns regarding this rezoning application to legservicesinfo@tol.ca prior to the public hearing on Monday June 12th.
Make plans to attend the public hearing and consider signing up to speak.
