Save Gospel Rock, Gibsons, BC

The Place The Gospel Rock area...“ is one of the most spectacularly beautiful and ecologically sensitive places on the entire Sunshine Coast, and the last stretch of natural waterfront within the Town of Gibsons. Trees over a century and a half old stand in the mature dryland Douglas Fir-Arbutus forest which stretches from the upper bluffs down to the shoreline. This type of forest grows exactly where people want to work and live—in sunny areas near the shoreline. As a result, we have logged and developed almost all the stands on the Sunshine Coast. Only a couple of small parcels like this remain between Gibsons and Pender Harbour. This is the rarest of the rare—and all the more valuable for being right next door to the heart of a community.” [ from The Sunshine Coast Conservation Association website <www.thescca.ca> ] The Issue The area that includes the waterfront and upper bluff is within the Gospel Rock Neighborhood Plan which is currently being formulated by the Town of Gibsons. It is privately owned land and is under immediate threat by the the current owner who wants to get approval to develop the site. This would severely undermine or destroy the rare natural ecosystem that exists at Gospel Rock which scientific inventory and evaluation has confirmed is special and worthy of conservation. It would also compromise the integrity of this much loved area that has been used for generations by Sunshine Coast residents and visitors alike. For many years conservation groups and local citizens have been promoting the idea of having some of the area designated as a park. The Response The area in question falls under the jurisdiction of the Town of Gibsons, which promotes itself as “the world’s most liveable town”. It has become an accepted standard that part of a balanced and healthy living environment is access to green spaces and nature. We have a rapidly eroding opportunity to contribute to the quality of living on the Sunshine Coast by ensuring that there are adequate natural spaces set aside for conservation and made available for all to experience, for now and into the future. In making the decisions that will affect the liveability of our community in the near future and forever afterward, the local government needs to know that they have the support of local citizens. As temporary stewards of this land and its ecology, they have the right, the authority and the obligation to respect and respond to the will of the people who have put their trust in their elected representatives. You can voice your opinion on this issue by writing to Gibsons Mayor and Council : email: [email protected] subject : attn. Mayor & Council __ re: Gospel Rock

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