Proposed: Commercial Light Industry and Storage Sites at Star Lake

Dear Mr. Sobkowich

 I am writing on behalf of my family to voice our concerns over the proposal to locate Commercial and Light Industry Storage Sites at the site of the former waste disposal ground (wdg), which operated at Star Lake for a number of years. I am happy to see that the original deadline for comments has been indefinitely extended to allow for further input and discussion.

 Having read many of the letters of opposition that have already been sent to you and forwarded to others, there is very little that needs to be added. The concerns that have been raised are valid and need to be considered as the process for a suitable location continues. The need for considering the plight of the local contractors is also valid but the assessment of prospective sites needs to be based on a number of factors, not just convenience of accessibility. Our family has been at Star for 42 years and during the time that the old wdg was operating, our walks along the gravel road included picking up debris, nails, screws etc. that “bounced” off the vehicles on their way to the wdg. If commercial sites are set up at this location I believe that this ritual will once again be part of our walks. Contractors are busy people and work long hours, and, at the end of the day, not all debris such as demolition materials, shingles etc, will find its way to its final disposal site every time, but rather back to the compound for overnight storage or perhaps longer.

 Why that site was originally picked to be a wdg is probably not known, but as a former employee with the provincial environment department, I can say that many of the former wdg sites throughout the province were selected because of ease of access and the desire to keep start-up costs minimal, not the desire to pick a site that was environmentally sound. Once established, it was very difficult to convince the powers that be to close them and relocate to more suitable locations. The Star Lake site was no exception and to see it then and to see it now is a contrast that was almost unimaginable at the time of closure. That site has already paid its dues and to undo what the last number of years have brought it to would be a travesty.    

 Although this new proposal for Star Lake is not a wdg, it is going to be a commercial light industry and storage site long past my time and that of my children and should it prove to not be a suitable site it will not be easy to dismantle, especially once buildings and/or pole sheds have been constructed. For this reason, careful consideration of the long term impacts this development will have on the surrounding forest, its use, cottagers and others who frequent Star Lake is vital.

 Regardless of where the Commercial Light Industry and Storage site is finally located, it will be there a very long time and, although our interest is currently with the Star Lake proposal, as a cottager in the South Whiteshell portion of the park I would expect that the same careful considerations be given to all prospective sites.

 My family and I thank you for your further consideration in this matter.

 Yours truly

 Rick Sokolowski and family, Star Lake Cottagers