Burnaby does not want to see more petroleum exports coming through its water, and has a thing or two to say about utilizing the marine and land area surrounding the city's ports.
In January 2012, Port Metro Vancouver initiated a public process to update its Port Land Use Plan, which would lead to an integrated plan for the region's former individual ports for the first time ever. The planning process includes Burnaby's Burrard Inlet waterfront and harbour, and the city's riverfront on the North Arm of the Fraser River. The port authority began a consultation process with local municipalities to share information and get feedback. The affected sites include the Chevron Refinery, Confederation Park and Berry Point, among others.
At its Monday night meeting, council approved a report that both opposes the expansion of petroleum exports and makes about 15 suggestions for the port's marine and land-use designations.
Mayor Derek Corrigan said council does not oppose jobs, but there are many different ways of achieving a well-run economy.
"I want to add that there's a lot of mis-description about what goes on in these kind of discussions," Corrigan said. "In the sense that people want to describe it as being opposed to jobs, or opposed to the economy - the reality is that I think all of us understand (that) the port is a working port."
Corrigan noted that the port has significant industrial activity, which takes Canadian goods all over the world and imports goods throughout North America.
"But we can't forget the second biggest industry in British Columbia is tourism," he said. "And the reality is that the port . has some of the most beautiful beaches in
Canada - the recreational area is unparalleled, that the ecology in that area is incredibly important to our communities, that it also has residential and other uses that are important to the overall livability in the Lower Mainland."
The port's draft land-use plan is being prepared with the assistance of local municipalities, and Burnaby has detailed its vision for the harbours to stay consistent with council's policies and direction, according to the report.
"It isn't a one-sided story and unfortunately Port Metro Vancouver, which is run by the big businesses, (is) not run by the government anymore, it's run by big businesses of the port (that) are solely engaged in the benefit of those businesses," Corrigan said. "We're left to fight for those other issues, for the ecology, for the residential uses, for the recreational uses.
"We're left to be the responsible ones saying these issues are just as important to our citizens and need to be recognized."
Corrigan said it's about maintaining a balance between jobs, health and recreation.
"Like in all things, balance needs to be achieved," Corrigan said. "I hope that Port (Metro) Vancouver listens to this and I hope that reports like this are coming from each municipality across the Lower Mainland. Perhaps they will gather at Port Metro Vancouver where each of us is able to say that we have aspirations for the port that include jobs, and the movement of goods, but also includes the ecological health of the inlet and the river and include the recreational uses."
The 22-page report outlines the city's policies to accommodate a mixture of port industrial and recreational uses. One of the port's plans is to "identify options to increase terminal capacity as required," according to the report.
Coun. Sav Dhaliwal thanked staff for the comprehensive report that reviewed both the Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River.
"The position of the city is very reasonable on all these points raised," he said. "These are very reasonable features of our OCP, our plan and even our growth strategies and everything's that's being asked for is in line with what we have worked for, for many, many years . we're not asking a whole lot."
Dhaliwal said the port authority should be a more conciliatory corporate citizen when working with their report.
"To say, yes we are already meeting them halfway, proposing a good solution so the water access continues to the public for future generations, as well as accommodate what already exists," he said. "This to me seems like something that we would like to get feedback from them. I would be very disappointed if the board did not at least give us a good chance to talk about these points."
Dhaliwal said he hopes the port carefully considers the city's report.
"One of the things the staff has pointed to very clearly is the port has previously set to expand the terminal, particularly for shipping of oil, perhaps, Kinder Morgan comes to mind, and the report (states) we have already stated our position in opposition to that. And before they carry on with the expansion of that, I think (discussions) should take place."
The committee's report can be viewed online at www.burnaby.ca.
