Timberwest and the sooke potholes

peapod

Hall of Fame Member
Jun 26, 2004
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pumpkin pie bungalow
I read the following this morning by ingmar lee, thought I would post it here. Galaniomama get your gum boots on and lead the protest. :p This is your old back yard, anybody know what sort of protest action is planned?? I have serious doubts that timberwest is going to be able to follow through with this plan, once everyone becomes aware of what they are planning.



TimberWest is proceeding with its brutal logging devastation scheme directly opposite the new TLC/CRD Sooke Potholes Park.

The brand new Sooke Potholes Park was announced yesterday. Tragically, TimberWest controls the ancient forest directly opposite the new park, just across the Sooke River, and they are now gearing up to destroy it.

TimberWest is widely recognized and despised as a ruthless destroyer of wilderness on Vancouver Island. TimberWest proudly exports 1,000,000 cubic metres of raw-logs off our island every year, and is directly implicated in the extinction of the Vancouver Island marmot. TimberWest is the amongst the most voracious destroyers of rare ancient fir forest, second only to Weyerhaeuser, and is a major financier of Gordon Campbell and the 'BC Liberals.'

Fearing a heightened public interest in the Sooke Potholes as a result of the park announcement, the giant corporation has sneaked in there and secretly laid out the entire road network in preparation for logging. This road system has not been built for the sole purpose of clearing off 100 acres of endangered ancient fir forest, but has clearly been designed and engineered for residential subdivision. The TimberWest falling boundary extends to within 30 ft of the Sooke River, directly adjacent to the most magnificent and beloved stretch of Potholes.

The TimberWest vision for the Sooke Potholes, directly opposite the new park:

1) clear off the ancient forest

2) subdivide as in "Bear Mountain 2."

I first discovered the flagged-in falling-boundary while swimming at the Potholes about 5 years ago. A friend and I followed the boundary and took GPS fixes going around and made the map. Since then, I have taken hundreds of people through that forest on 'Barefoot Hikes' with permission from Hereditary Chief Frank Planes, and with the late elected Chief Andy Planes, of the T'Sou'ke First Nation.

Over the years I repeatedly pleaded with the Nature Conservancy here in Victoria to exert their influence on TimberWest to spare the forest. At first the Nature Conservancy, who has been retained by TimberWest to identify ecologically significant areas of their 'private land' holdings, told me that they were not interested in the Potholes.

With increasing pressure, Jan Garnett, Executive Director of the Nature Conservancy and TimberWest's #1 environmental 'PR-flak,' finally changed her tune and assured me that the Nature Conservancy had recognized the importance of this remnant of rare primeval fir forest and and had recommended it for protection. As the last 'refugia-tuft' remnant in the Sooke River valley, it has significant ecological and recreational value . If TimberWest is able to proceed with its plans, the Nature Conservancy, with its close collusive, collaboration with TimberWest will share resposibility for the destruction of the World Famous Potholes.

The Potholes are a beloved destination for people on south-island, and are considered sacred by elders of the T'Sou'ke First Nation. It will be a tragedy of the first order if this magnificent forest, in plain view of the new Potholes Park, is slashed down for subdivision. For all lovers of the Sooke Potholes, there is still time to protect this forest, but it's running out quickly.
Ingmar Lee
 

Gonzo

Electoral Member
Dec 5, 2004
997
1
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Was Victoria, now Ottawa
The Liberal government in BC wont do anything. They are conservatives under the Liberal name. I love that area and if it's ruined it would be terrible. I'd protest if I were still there.
 

Anonymous

Electoral Member
Mar 24, 2002
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this is quite amazing, i had no idea what was planned for the area opposite the pot holes. what can we do? it all depends on where it is in the legal stuff at sooke. i grew up with the current mayor of sooke and believe me, she is still one tough cookie. she wants to increase her tax base, and i can see what side of the road she will be on. she was pretty choked when the land conservancy bought out the pot holes on the one side, so there is going to be plenty of opposition to anyone trying to 'save' the other side. well, for starters we can find out where it is in the public process. if it is going for a subdivision application, i would think the public would be informed. maybe not...i will check my sources and report back. :wink:

it would be a tradegy to have this area raped and then those awful row houses placed there, just so some slimey developer can make a quick buck. unfortunately, that's the way of the world at the present time. yeah, i will see what info i can come up with. is it under sooke or the crd i wonder??? if it is under the crd - gear up - they are really underhanded......
 

peapod

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Jun 26, 2004
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Yes there is mom, just ask radical hippy :p Blah! galaniomama is now posing as a guest, probally from a galaxy far far away :p Have you been to the island mom?
 

mrmom2

Senate Member
Mar 8, 2005
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Kamloops BC
Many many times Iwas just thinking of the Catheadral forest park .Have you ever hiked there its beautiful for about 1000 yards then theres a huge clearcut .
 

galianomama

Council Member
Jun 29, 2004
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Victoria, B.C.
yeah, cathedral grove has been a thorn in the side of the present government for quite awhile. they would love to just rip it out...but unfortunately the general public is against this! there are many beautiful untouched areas, but you need to fly/hike into them in order to appreciate. pea knows about many around her stomping grounds at port alberni, and i know of a few further up the island. the sad thing is, government in bed with large forest companies usually makes for some kind of weird child......we just can't seem to understand the need for protection of our forests, not just for tourism dollars, but for our own fresh and breathable air, clear streams, which in turn make for fresh water, you know the dance! we do need harvesting forests, but i think they can be side by side with those forests deemed much older than us, and there are many spin off projects that can do less ecological damage to our area.
 

peapod

Hall of Fame Member
Jun 26, 2004
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*claps really loud* thats very good galaniomama. Well actually mom whenever I go through catherdal grove to Port Alberni, I cannot drive fast enough through it. Now its full of tour buses, and tourists. I try to avoid the tourist as much as possible :p Not to worry galaniomama there are many plans already in the works to protest timberwest, second cousin to forest rapist Weyerhaeuser :twisted:
 

Anonymous

Electoral Member
Mar 24, 2002
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okay babes, i will be waiting for the 'call'.....these large forest monsters must be stomped!!!!
 

zentree

New Member
Apr 19, 2005
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sooke
I was riding the Galloping Goose yesterday up to Leechtown and noticed flagging all along the trail. Does anyone know if this is part of TimberWest's greedy grab for Sooke's trees? Some of the trees up there must be hold outs from ancient forests as they are huge! If indeed this is to be logged it sure will mess up the trail experience for myself as well as thousands of other trail users over the next few decades. Can anyone confirm the gory details of the logging plan? Hard to imagine that it is still legal to kill old growth forests in this country. Once gone, gone forever...
 

galianomama

Council Member
Jun 29, 2004
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Victoria, B.C.
not sure zentree, but if you place a call to the crd they should be able to fill you in....i think it is them who manage the galloping goose. maybe they are just going to widen it? who knows!

by the way, welcome!