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It's time for residents to save south Delta, say opponents of industrialization plans

Sandor Gyarmati - Delta Optimist - Saturday, February 10, 2007

DELTA

It's time residents attempt to save south Delta from ruin, say those fearing massive port industrialization plans.

More than 200 residents filled a public meeting at the Ladner Community Centre this week to hear representatives from several groups describe the community's imminent demise as a result of the expansion of Deltaport and loss of farmland to container storage.

Dubbed Save Our Delta, the meeting, organized by the group Against Port Expansion, had speakers preaching to the converted when it came to the port, implications of the Tsawwassen First Nation treaty, the B.C. Railway Company's rail yard plans and the South Fraser Perimeter Road.

Instead of being just a forum at which people could vent their indignation, speakers made sure to drive home the point that Delta residents can take part in activism to pressure government.

"I believe if we mount sufficient support, we can undo the decision on Deltaport. Governments make mistakes, but governments can be made to undo those mistakes," said Donna Passmore of the Fraser Valley Conservation Coalition and Gateway 30 Network.

Listing the ecological and social effects if South Delta became a massive industrial port zone with heavy truck and rail traffic and covered with container storage, Passmore said the quality of life for residents would disappear.

The future of what's supposed to be protected farmland in Delta, according to APE's Roger Emsley, looks bleak.

Emsley used a slide presentation to "connect the dots" of the rail yard, container storage, the TFN treaty, which involves the removal of ALR land, a private deal between the band and the port authority, the fragmentation of farms, exclusions from the ALR, the Deltaport Third Berth project and the bigger Terminal 2 plan. He also pointed to the planned merger of Lower Mainland port authorities as part of a master plan to quietly convert South Delta.

Delta-Richmond East MP John Cummins said he could understand how Delta residents feel hopeless because they're besieged with bad news.

"The issues we're facing today all seem related to the port and port expansion," said Cummins. He said citizens must get together to agree on solutions, such as the Hoover/Naas proposal for the South Fraser Perimeter Road.

A sombre and frustrated Mayor Lois Jackson also spoke, saying she's tired of what's passing as democracy.

å© The Vancouver Sun 2007