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Anger and concern over Livingstone-Porcupine Hills draft plans voiced at Sunday rally

Apr 22, 2018 | 8:32 AM

LETHBRIDGE – The month-long public consultation process about the draft Livingstone – Porcupine Hills Footprint and Recreation plans will be wrapping up soon, and concerned residents say they want their voices heard.

Over 200 concerned citizens showed up for a rally in Galt Gardens at noon on Sunday (Apr 22). This group was not a mass of rowdy, boisterous rednecks. Those assembled were families with kids in tow, who are concerned about a loss of recreation, not only for them, but for their grandchildren and future generations.

The group was represented by those from all walks of life, including a doctor, and members of the Crowsnest Quad Squad.  Some had travelled from Calgary and Red Deer, including the President of the Alberta Off Highway Vehicle Association (AOHVA), which represents 500,000 Albertans.  They spoke about the lack of consultation and how the government is ignoring the lost revenue (upwards of $7 Million for one season) for nearby communities and businesses that meet the needs of campers and OHVers.

A release states on-line surveys were made available to Albertans as a means of providing feedback on those plans but anyone who completed the surveys, or attempted to, can attest to the fact it was a time consuming and onerous process.

From a public consultation perspective, according to one rally organizer, Bryan Litchfield, that raises a red flag.

“One might ask if the process was undertaken more for optics than true consultation. Over the past 30 years, responsible user groups, non-motorized and motorized clubs and their members, have invested millions of dollars and tens of thousands of volunteer hours to build trails used for motorized and non-motorized recreation in Alberta,” Litchfield said.

Organizers recognize there is an issue with environmental damage, but there are solutions and there is a way to accommodate all the concerns. They have hauled material, built bridges and created a sustainable trail network to ensure that responsible trail users have a safe place to ride, hike, mountain bike and generally enjoy the wilderness of Alberta.

These clubs and their members believe Alberta’s outdoor spaces alongside the outdoor pursuits should be enjoyed by all Albertans.

Those present at the rally are looking for responsible and monitored OHV use, but say the government’s proposed plans jeopardize user safety, negatively impact the user experience and quite likely will increase environmental impact as the density of camping and OHV use will be restricted to increasingly limited spaces:

— The total existing OHV Trail network has been reduced by 70.14 per cent
— Most existing loop rout opportunities have been removed so the majority of users will all be on one single trail in the proposed areas, concentrating users on a bi-directional trail.
— Riding opportunities will require staging at one spot, then requiring equipment to be loaded and moved to another area to be able to enjoy trails, because of no connecting trails.
— All scenic connections into BC trails have been removed as hall all trails in Tent Mountain.

“The draft plans for the Livingstone and the Porcupine Hills area don’t reflect the stewardship and dedication these clubs and their members have demonstrated, and we want out voices heard,” Litchfield continued. “The AOHVA 4-Point Plan for Environmentally Responsible OHV Use provides the framework required to create a legacy all Albertans can be proud of.”

To date, hundreds of letters of support for the AOHVA 4-Point Plan for Environmentally Responsible OHV Use have been signed by organizations and people across the province and sent to the Alberta Environment and Parks Minister, but organizers believe it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

***Story edited to add information after rally