By David F. Rooney
Jason Roe, proponent of an adventure-tourism project near Greeley Creek, says his project does not pose a threat to the security or quality of Revelstoke’s drinking water, despite some concerns expressed by the City.
“Those concerns have been expressed before,” Roe said of a letter Mayor Dave Raven sent to Front Counter BC Land Officer Christine Lohr on June 3.
He said his development, if approved, will be sensitive to the importance of the Greeley Creek watershed as the main source of Revelstoke’s drinking water.
In his letter Raven notes that “the city’s primary water source intake is on Greeley Creek, adjacent to the proposed development.”
During Tuesday’s regular Council meeting the mayor said he does not oppose the project but wanted to outline some valid concerns.
The Revelstoke Adventure Park proposed by Roe’s BlackTie Properties/Bobcat Property Development Corp. is intended to “enhance Revelstoke’s reputation as a leading outdoor adventure tourism destination.”
Located 10 kilometres east of Revelstoke along the Trans-Canada Highway, the proposed park’s base of operations, Greeley Meadows, is located on 100 hectares of developable land. The proposed park itself extends from the northern base of Mount Mackenzie onto Crown land 1,000 metres up its northeastern shoulder. The park will cover 282.5 hectares of Crown land.
According to his company’s website, the development will include a number of amenities and activities, including a network of downhill mountain biking trails, zip lines, bungee jump, high ropes course, mountain coaster and a full-service mountain top lodge.
“We have clearly stated that we will not be operating in the watershed area,” Roe said.
Lest anyone think the Greeley watershed is somehow immune to exploitation, maps produced for the City’s own Greeley Creek Source Protection Plan clearly show that the area contained a Downie Timber tenure, Selkirk Metals mineral claims, Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s alpine skiing tenure, cat skiing and heli skiing tenures as well as the proposed adventure park tenure.
In any event, Roe expects that the process leading to the eventual establishment of the adventure park will be a lengthy one involving not just the City, but the provincial government and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.
Please click here to read the mayor’s letter.
Please click here to view the maps of the Greeley Creek area.
