Re: Juan de Fuca resort plan draws negative response (Sooke News Mirror website Feb. 17 2011)
With all the controversy over the Juan de Fuca resort plan, it’s curious that none of the local committee members has tried to find out where rural residents really stand.
That’s why the Wild Coast Campaign conducted a mail-in survey of 423 households in Otter Point, Shirley, Jordan River, and Port Renfrew.
Every home that allows Canada Post ad mail delivery received the survey.
Fifty-six residents answered the question: “What would you prefer to see happen in the Juan de Fuca forestlands?” The survey listed 16 options, and people were asked to check all that apply.
Nine out of 56 (16 per cent) answered “resort tourism.” Eight out of 56 (14 per cent) selected “real estate development.”Four out of 56 (7.5 per cent) chose both.
The top three choices were “watershed and habitat restoration,” “forest protection,” and “park creation.”
At the March 3 public information meeting we counted 16 local people speaking against the Juan de Fuca resort plan, and five in favour (31 per cent).
At the Feb. 15 Juan de Fuca Land Use Committee, we tallied 15 locals who spoke against the project, and five in favour (34 per cent). Three more appeared undecided.
That’s the response of people who live in the Juan de Fuca electoral area. In my opinion, the local residents have spoken clearly. The representatives need to listen.
Zoe Blunt
Langford