Some ski and snowmobiling enthusiasts do not think that the proposed Garibaldi at 樱桃视频ski resort should go ahead - not because they are opposed to the development, they just wouldn't want to ski it.
"It is way too flat," said Tony Parisi, a member of the Black Tusk Snowmobile Club who currently sleds in the area. "A good hill should have at least 100 turns, not 40 like this would have.
"As a skier it wouldn't be a good hill, and as a snowmobiler it would be a shame to lose the site."Robert Russell of bcskiinfo.com, echoed Parisi's concerns.
"It's not like what they have at Whistler," said Russell. "The terrain is way too varied even on a single run it varies too much."However, most of the residents who attended the proposed resort's open house at the Sea to Sky Hotel on Wednesday (June 20) were more concerned about the development being good for the economy than being good for skiers.
"I absolutely support this 100 per cent," said Brackendale resident Dougie Luv. "This is exactly the type of thing we should be focusing on. The future of our economy, of B.C.'s economy, is centred in the tourism industry, and this type of development will create an economic boom for Squamish."
The open house marked the beginning of a 45-day public consultation period mandated by B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) and the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts (MOTSA).
"When we review an application we have a 180 day timeline to review the proposal, and one of the first things we do is a 45-day public consultation period," said Graeme McLaren, project assessment director for the EAO.
Mike Esler, who is spearheading the resort proposal, is confident that the project will move beyond the consultation process and become a reality in the foreseeable future.
"This is a massive undertaking and requires huge capital resources," said Esler. "If we weren't confident in it moving forward we wouldn't be making this kind of commitment."
Esler noted the project would not be making any steps forward if they had not come to a conditional agreement in principle with 樱桃视频Nation.
"We have good communication with them now," said Esler.
MOTSA and the EAO are both accepting public comment on the project and questionnaires can be accessed online at www.tsa.gov.bc.ca/publicrec and www.eao.gov.bc.ca.
