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In the week of July 14,
2008, a local resident of the Mactaquac area found trees being cut along
a ravine and next to the Alex Creek, located in the south of Mactaquac
Provincial Park. The cutting was reported to the Department of
Tourism and Parks and to the Department of Environment. The trees
were being cut by a company called Treego, which has been in discussion
with the Department of Tourism and Parks to establish an aerial obstacle
course in the park. Tourism and Parks officials had the cutting
stopped, citing only that the company did not yet have the necessary
permits for the development. The project itself has not been
cancelled.
This development within
the bounds of the provincial park has come as a surprise to just about
everyone. There has been no consultation with existing users of
the park or with the local group Friends of Mactaquac. No
description or blueprint of the proposed course has been provided to the
public yet. There has been no known evaluation of the impacts such
a development would have on the ecosystems, wildlife, or the nature
trail over which the the course will be constructed. What is known
is that the course may involve zip lines, aerial catwalks from tree to
tree, and the construction of platforms in trees. The course is
also expected to cross an undisturbed cove, which may have an impact on
the nearby sailboat marina.
So far, numerous
hemlock, cedar, ash, and birch trees have been cut, ranging from
saplings to mature trees approaching 50 cm in diameter. Large portions
of the crowns of towering hemlock and pine trees (one over 3.2 metres
or 10 feet in circumference) have been removed to make way for cables
and platforms.
Many more trees have been marked with paint and ribbons, but the meaning
of the markings have not been explained yet. One tree which
appears to be a part of the proposed plan, possibly as one end of a zip
line, is an oak estimated at 300 years of age - it is not known what is
to be done exactly with that tree. Some trees at the very edge of
the creek have already been cut.
CPAWS NB is asking the
government to not go forward with this project until such time as all
concerns have been appropriately addressed. This includes:
- a complete environmental assessment of the
proposed project;
- an assessment of impacts on existing use
of the area;
- an assessment of alternative locations for the
project;
- a full and detailed description of the project
made publicly available;
- and proper public consultation.
Anybody wishing to provide comment to
the provincial government concerning this development at Mactaquac
Provincial Park may do so by writing to :
Hon. Stuart Jamieson
Minister of Tourism and
Parks
P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton,
NB E3B 5H1
Stuart.jamieson@gnb.ca
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