Adventure park hearing draws tears cheers and fears

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“This is an opportunity for us to create jobs, not just a few jobs, but jobs that will be full time jobs for people in this community and jobs for our students in this community,” maintained Patti Wood.

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But farmers were concerned that the creation of the park would intensify already prominent water issues in the township.

Many nearby residents stated that they rely on a nearby spring on the mountain for water and are worried that the proposed park would impact water quality and contribute to increased run-off and flooding.

“The run-off these past few years has been extreme because of deforestation. With the new development we do not want our water supply contaminated with sewer, feculent, exhaust in the snow that ends up in the ground and we end up breathing it,” said former councillor Bev Torrens.

Fears about what the project could do to their water supply and overall livelihood was on the minds of Craig Hoisington and Kristy Liashenko, a couple who saved and sacrificed to create an organic farm in Spallumcheen.

Tears began flowing down Liashenko’s face as she explained her fears about the impact of the proposed park on their farm.

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“If we don’t have water, we will lose everything that we have worked 20 years for,” Liachenko said.

But the applicants insisted that the water issues have little to do with their proposal.

“Many people have mentioned that the logging way up high is causing the problem and I believe that’s the case,” Jack Wood said.

“I think I’m getting the blame for a lot of things that are going on that are not really of my doing,” he added.

Aside from water, traffic along Eagle Rock Road received a lot of attention with residents questioning safety and if the road is able to sustain the number of people that would be driving into and out of the park.

“Tourist traffic consisting of motor homes, trailers and other RV’s will add to the danger of this country road. I fear not if someone is going to be hit but when someone will be hit as Eagle Rock Road was not built for this purpose to handle this amount of traffic,” one person said.

Property value depreciation, noise, potential for forest fires, and the destruction of a rural setting were also brought up by those who took to the microphone.

The public hearing also brought forward its share of supporters with four people taking to the mic stating that it would give parents and children a fun activity to enjoy together, while opening up job opportunities.

“I have three kids and they are raised in this town, my husband grew up in Armstrong and there really is not a whole lot to do. This is going to open up job opportunities. It’s going to do a lot,” said resident McKayla Cook.

In the end, Coun. Todd York put forward a motion to postpone the decision until the next council meeting.

“I think it would be somewhat inappropriate for us to make a decision at this point,” he said.

“This was emotional at times and I can see that people feel very strongly about some of the issues and I think that we need to examine some of the issues a little more closely.”

Coun. Andrew Casson agreed.

“There is a lot. I’m just weighing through how can we safeguard what we have and also allow for potential new things.”

The next council meeting is slated for September 3 at 7 p.m. at the township office.