Against Port Expansion says it's in possession of a confidential Vancouver Fraser Port Authority document that shows the weakness of the business case for the proposed Terminal 2 project at Roberts Bank.
The group notes member Susan Jones has analyzed the document intended for government departments only, a document that APE contends is passing off assumptions as facts in order to get support for the new container terminal.
Some of her observations, APE states, includes Vancouver container business failing to meet even the lowest case forecasts in five reports commissioned by the port, between 2007 and 2014 Canadian traffic has remained flat and that the port's assertion container ports are operating at 85 per cent capacity is untrue.
APE notes a number of puzzling questions need to be answered including whether the wild forecast assumptions being thrown about are being used to subvert the work of the environmental assessment process.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, in response, issued a statement by Robyn Crisanti, director of public affairs, noting that as an agent of the Crown, it regularly provides information in a variety of ways to federal, provincial and local government officials and responds to questions and assertions raised by them, as well as aboriginal groups, stakeholders and members of the public.
"We actively respond to questions on a range of topics through, for example, community meetings, presentations, newsletters and responding to inquiries received through our website, email and social media channels.
Our responses regarding the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project summarize information which is, and has been, available publicly throughout the planning and development of the proposed project over the past six years. Detailed information about the proposed project, including the government briefing note, is available at www.robertsbankterminal2. com or through our Community Office at 5225A Ladner Trunk Road in Delta. We also welcome anyone interested in learning more to drop by our Delta office to have a coffee and chat with a member of our team."
That response didn't directly answer to APE's questions about the forecasts justifying T2.
The port authority last year submitted an environmental impact statement following four years of scientific study and consultation.
Now undergoing a federal panel review process, T2 is a proposed three-berth terminal that would provide 2.4 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit containers) of container capacity adjacent to the existing three-berth Deltaport terminal. The project is part of the Port of Vancouver's Container Capacity Improvement Program.
