I have major concerns regarding the number of people who will be coming into our small community if the proposed Lake Town Ranch application is approved.
Firstly, Highway 18 was not built to accommodate the amount of traffic that will be brought into our area for that event. Our population bulges to 10,000 or so on any long weekend and the entire area is stretched to the max, with policing, emergency services, restaurants, shopping normally able to accommodate our area population of approximately 4,000.
To suggest there will be economic benefit is short sighted. Once a restaurant is full, it is full. Where are the angry patrons going to go while they are waiting?
Secondly, the pristine river is getting less and less pristine. On any nice summer weekend there are upward of 1,000 tubes going by my house. It is a two hour ride now that the water is at low levels. The weather is hot and there is lots of hydration, good health practice. As a result, many gallons of urine are being “tinkled” into the river.
As well, the odd or perhaps not so odd, person defecating in the bushes. No one wants to do that in their pants on a hot day. Nature calls when it calls.
In any case, this is all untreated sewage and if there is a “spin off the lily” it is not going to pay the bills for the clean-up. The visitors come in, have a good time and leave.
We are left behind to clean up the mess. With a stampede of folks from the proposed “Ranch” tubing on our overly pissed-in river, how long before I live on a sewage pond?
Thirdly, I understand that the site will be policed by staff hired by the organizers during the event. Who will be protecting our community? Lake Cowichan could end up in the same mob mania as the Vancouver, Parkville and Kelowna riots of years past. No one has the policing to handle an out of control, drunken mob. Who would pay for the devastation in and around our community if the crowd decides to come to town?
Lastly, If there was such a great spin off for the Duncan community why are they silently allowing it to leave without a comment? Or is it a case of “thank God” not in my backyard.
I am totally opposed to changing the zoning in the area to allow Lake Town Ranch to bring their “wild west show” to our small community. Go in peace, go in kindness but go somewhere else.
Anne Wise
Lake Cowichan