The lack of a comprehensive environmental assessment of the bustling Mont Tremblant area where Intrawest Corp. is undertaking a $1-billion expansion is a "major methodological sin," the regional environmental council says.
With scores of smaller ventures planned for the area, the "cumulative effects" of development require assessment, the Conseil regional de l'environnement des Laurentides said in a position paper.
If the Station Mont Tremblant expansion does go ahead, Intrawest should kick in $10 million to help monitor and offset resulting damage done to the environment, the council said in a brief received by the federal agency helping to fund the project.
"There is a precedent for this in Quebec; Hydro-Quebec has a policy of making a (one to two per cent) financial contribution ... to compensate for damages that could be caused by the installation of its infrastructures," the council said.
Particular emphasis should be placed on monitoring the Diable River and its watershed, which have been identified as potentially problematic, council president Jacques Ruelland said in an interview.
The CRE brief, and most of the other six tendered by local organizations representing fly fishermen, property owners, environmental groups and outdoor enthusiasts, outlined their deep concern about the Diable watershed, the potable water supply and pollution levels.
Infrastructure Canada, which is part of Minister of State John Godfrey's department, is contributing $47.5 million to the Intrawest development, thus triggering an environmental assessment.
A screening report, paid for by Intrawest, was conducted by Roche Ltee. The report, and the government assessment of it, were recently made available for public comment.
The CRE des Laurentides brief - among others - objected to the lack of public hearings on the expansion.
The 10-year project, which Vancouver-based Intrawest said would involve about $900 million in investment from the private sector, includes the development of two new villages featuring commercial and residential units, hotels, artificial ponds, conference centres and new ski trails.
When completed, the ski hills will be able to handle 20,000 people a day, up from 12,000. Together, all facilities will be able to handle an annual flow of 4.5 million visitors, up from 2.3 million, according to Intrawest.
In addition to the Intrawest expansion - to be done in two stages, Versant Soleil and Camp Nord - about 100 smaller development projects have been proposed for the area, the CRE report said.
"Problems related to water in the sector require that (development) proceed with the greatest prudence," the CRE said, asking that federal funds for the Camp Nord expansion be withheld at least until the impact of Versant Soleil and other projects in the area, has been assessed.
The Muncipalite regionale de comte des Laurentides supports the Intrawest expansion, its director, Sylvain Boulianne, said.
But the council's nuanced formal response to the Roche study noted that the cumulative impact of area development is beyond the scope of the study.
It seeks a "significant contribution" by Station Mont Tremblant to the concept of durable development in the area.
A $10-million contribution by Intrawest, spread over 10 years, will help fund the recently established management group for the Diable watershed, Ruelland said.
The regional council is also a committee member.
An Infrastructure Canada spokesperson said that the briefs submitted by CRE and others will be assessed and, if need be, further mitigating measures will be asked of Intrawest before the federal money is made available.
A final environmental assessment report will be issued "as soon as possible," Mary Johnson said.
Construction has started on the Versant Soleil expansion.
Station Mont Tremblant referred a request for comments to Infrastructure Canada.
The province has not required any third-party assessment of the Intrawest project.
lmoore@thegazette.canwest.com
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