Proposed: Commercial Light Industry and Storage Sites at Star Lake

Attention Honorable Brian Pallister Honorable Sarah Guillemard, Dale Sobkowich

We are responding to you regarding the now funded government proposal for Commercial Light Industry and Storage Sites – South Whiteshell Provincial Park at Star Lake and McDougall’s Landing. It is our understanding that the proposed sites were identified by the Conservation and Climate “staff” in conjunction with “members” of the Commercial Light Industry Storage “group” for such development – not the Cottage Based Businesses. The letter our family received from Manitoba Conservation and Climate on August 28, 2020 was not dated, nor signed, yet only gave cottage owners approximately 3 weeks to respond (by September 18, 2020). The timing is also extremely insensitive during the midst of a pandemic. We find your notification process inadequate and the description of the proposal extremely vague, certainly not transparent. It is difficult to make an informed decision without extensive knowledge of this proposal and why previous CLISS proposals at Barren Lake and Falcon Lake were rejected.

  Our family has been lifelong Star Lakers. Star Lake is not just cottages; it’s a state of mind, a home away from home, a small close community of enduring friendships, a place to respect and explore what nature has to offer.

  The proposed site at Star Lake, referred to in the letter, as the “old dump” site, is an area that has been rejuvenated and returned to ecological use after its closure. The Star Lake dump operated for over 15 years as a waste disposal site for brush, bulky metallic and other dry waste and raw garbage. The dump was located on sand and silt deposit 3 - 6 meters in depth and groundwater flows northerly towards the lake.  G.S. Karp conducted an environmental assessment and review of waste disposal sites located in the Whiteshell Provincial Park in 1987 for Manitoba Department of Environment and Workplace Safety and Health. Karp concluded the waste disposal grounds contaminated the groundwater. Subsequently our drinking water pumps located at Star Lake were removed. Further academic research and water sampling in 2003/2004 indicated the Star Lake waste disposal site may have contributed to the high mercury contamination observed in sediment profiles in Star Lake. Star Lake is at the head of the watershed in which water flows into the Whiteshell River and Winnipeg River systems. Contamination into the groundwater and the installation of drainage culverts at this proposed site is a major concern.

  The Precambrian shield surrounding the proposed site at Star Lake has significant geological history. It is part of the Falcon Lake Intrusive Complex – A Magmatic Conduit to a Continental Volcano– dated about 2.7 billion years. The Star Lake lava pillows are dated about 2.8 billion years. For this reason, The Whiteshell Provincial Natural Park Master Plan designates Star Lake as 1 of 20 Special Area Zones. We believe there is a need to preserve and protect such geological wonders in Manitoba. The proximity of the proposed site encroaches on our community, nature and trails.

  We request the following documentation:

1.      A timeline of the Star Lake/McDougall’s Landing proposal with all supporting documents, funding allocations, application and planning processes, site proximity requirements and impact studies

2.      Documents from the previous rejected CLISS proposals including the reasons for rejection

3.      List of Conservation and Climate staff including those responsible for selecting these sites; list of members of the Commercial Light Industry Storage group; list of the Cottage Based Businesses -their current business location and type of business

4.      The 1987 G.S. Karp environmental assessment and review

5.      Documents associated with the Star Lake waste disposal closure and the government’s standards (regulations and restrictions) for its post closure

We cannot fathom why Star Lake emerged as one of the proposed sites. If the businesses operate from other lakes – why the access to Star Lake? Just because it’s convenient? We do not believe our small lake can sustain the impact of any more development let alone such a large commercial industrial development.

Val (Brown), Greg, Cody and Tom Moore

Star Lake