The NIMBY’s are on the march in Delta, as plans to move forward with an expansion to the Delta container port finds bit of organized resistance on the Lower Mainland.
This Weekends Vancouver Sun saw a high profile ad placed in the Business section (B 11) of the provinces most widely read weekend paper, which came out strongly against any further expansion to the container port on the Lower Mainland shoreline.
The ad which outlines many of the concerns of those that would like to see the project halted includes a website address (see here) where the folks at APE (Against Port Expansion) make their case against port expansion in the Lower Mainland.
The recent opening of the Prince Rupert Fairview container port has more than a few residents of Delta and environs suggesting that perhaps it might be a more progressive plan to expand the North coast port, as opposed to continuing on in Delta and adding to that communities traffic congestion and gobbling up the valuable farm and wetlands of the area.
This Weekends Vancouver Sun saw a high profile ad placed in the Business section (B 11) of the provinces most widely read weekend paper, which came out strongly against any further expansion to the container port on the Lower Mainland shoreline.
The ad which outlines many of the concerns of those that would like to see the project halted includes a website address (see here) where the folks at APE (Against Port Expansion) make their case against port expansion in the Lower Mainland.
The recent opening of the Prince Rupert Fairview container port has more than a few residents of Delta and environs suggesting that perhaps it might be a more progressive plan to expand the North coast port, as opposed to continuing on in Delta and adding to that communities traffic congestion and gobbling up the valuable farm and wetlands of the area.
There has been a growing debate ever since the idea to expand the Deltaport was announced but now that it seems that things are moving ahead, so is the resistance.
Prince Rupert inadvertently finds itself held up as the shining example of where future development should go, featured prominently in the APE website’s alternative’s section.
While it’s probably a safe bet that local officials, port or otherwise, won’t be making any public commentaries on the percolating issue on the Lower mainland. They probably, when the doors are closed and the shades are drawn, are rather glad to see that their future plans have such a strong endorsement, if even from such an unlikely sector. Especially the part of the website that urges residents of the Lower Mainland to contact their politicians to make some noise on the issue.
If the backlash in the south takes place as the organizers of APE hope, then there very well may be a quicker push to move forward with Phases II, III and beyond on the North Coast.
From their backyard to our backyard, the prospect of less controversial port development probably has a better chance of success on the North coast.
Judging by how organized the people at APE seem to be, the battle is soon to heat up and the development plans will be under the microscope. A move towards a quicker pace in Prince Rupert, would be a development that probably would suit the folks of Delta just fine.
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