MK Delta Lands says its proposed industrial development located next to the Burns Bog protected zone won’t create a fire hazard to the bog.
In a statement issued Thursday, the company noted it’s taking a responsible approach to wildfire prevention, having worked extensively with recognized bog specialists to ensure that development of the site is not going to negatively affect the surrounding water level. The company says the drainage design will increase and improve water levels at the driest part of the year, while maintaining surface waters throughout the year.
The company is offering those assurances following this week’s major wildfire at Burns Bog.
Delta officials said bog fires have the potential to grow quickly and become difficult to manage, but MK Delta Lands noted they are a natural part of the unique ecosystem and occur periodically.
“We are developing a comprehensive plan for fire management for the MK Delta Lands Group property. For example, we have consulted with Delta Fire and Emergency Services to design maintenance access roads along the perimeter of the property with access points at the property margins for emergency vehicles, if they should ever need such access,” the company explained.
“The design also includes controllable weirs at key locations in and around the site that could be used to potentially adjust water levels to lower wildfire danger ratings. The perimeter berm and drainage ditch will remain wetted throughout the year, and we will manage vegetation growth and development so that fuel loads do not become large. We designed the perimeter buffer to be consistent with the surrounding environment.”
The company adds the goal is to amend the effects of peat harvesting by improving summer water levels.
The company wants to build 2.2 million square feet of industrial space on a 62-hectare (155-acre) parcel located adjacent to the Highway 91 Connector (Nordel Way) and the South Fraser Perimeter Road, located adjacent to the protected Burns Bog ecological conservancy area. Once landscaping and buffering are completed, about 45 hectares (112 acres) would have industrial buildings. The plan would see it developed into several service parcels that would eventually be subdivided into lots between 3.6 and 10 hectares (nine to 25 acres) in size. The buildings would be between 300,000 to 400,000 square feet. The Burns Bog Conservation Society is spearheading the opposition to the project, saying the site, in fact, is part of the bog and should also be protected. It also warned of potential damage to the protected bog zone.
A public hearing on the application will take place July 26.
