Home construction south of Gimli threatens vital wetlands, group claims

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/04/2019 (2700 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A lobby group has been formed to fight what it is calling the illegal destruction of coastal wetlands south of Gimli on the west side of Lake Winnipeg.

The group says the provincial government is failing to police planned home construction that would contravene provincial legislation.

Jeff Smith, co-founder of People for the Preservation of the Willow Island Coastal Wetland, said the wetland that stretches to Netley Creek is all that remains of what was once an extensive natural habitat.

Wetlands prevent pollutants from reaching the lake, he said. Disturbing the wetlands could contribute to the destruction of the lake, ruining the fishery and damaging tourism.

“The price to be paid for that will not be felt so much by us, it will be felt by our children… and our grandchildren,” Smith said.

Smith and several other members of the lobby group called a press conference at the Legislative Building Tuesday to draw attention to the planned development and left a package of information outlining their concerns with Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires.

Although the group’s beef is centred around construction of one home, it feels the project would serve as the thin edge of the wedge to further development. In the past, authorities have denied several requests for development in the area, including for multi-unit dwellings, Smith said.

He said he finds it ironic that the government would establish a $102-million conservation trust, while appearing to allow the destruction of wetlands in contravention of The Planning Act.

A spokeswoman for Squires said approval for regrading and fill activities at the site in question was issued by the province in January 2016 because the area had been significantly disturbed during flood-protection efforts in 2005.

“The approved site was not considered to be an undisturbed coastal wetland…. Sustainable Development staff visited the site in 2018 and reminded the land manager of the approved scope of activity,” the spokeswoman said in an email.

This past winter, the department became aware of unauthorized excavation adjacent to the previously authorized fill area, she said.

“This additional work (construction of a channel that would allow boat access to the property) was stopped by Sustainable Development through a request by a Water Resource Officer on March 19, 2019, followed by a letter from the Drainage and Water Rights Licensing Branch on March 22, 2019,” she said.

“The letter provided direction on activities needed to comply with the requirements of The Water Rights Act and The Environment Act. The land manager has been co-operative and the department continues to monitor the site to ensure compliance with the direction provided.”

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca