Golf course plan has P.E.I. Watershed Alliance calling for more protection for wetlands
Developer says Summerside project 'not eliminating wetlands without replacement'
An environmental group is raising concerns about how some wetlands are being filled in while a new golf course is being built in Summerside, but a spokesperson for the developer says everything is being done with proper authorization.
The golf course is part of the Ocean View Resort project, which involves infilling 27 acres of wetland.
Heather Laiskonis, the executive director of the P.E.I. Watershed Alliance, said she found out about the development permit from a member of the public.
"A concerned citizen called us. They weren't sure who to direct their question to so they called us and I did a little digging," she said.
"The citizen called because they had seen a huge amount of red silt flowing into the estuary, and there was a functioning little pond where all the local waterfowl were gathering and the silt filled in so much in this little area that the waterfowl had to leave.
"They actually paid over $400,000 to infill a wetland, 27 acres of wetland, which is a very productive ecosystem here on P.E.I."
Laiskonis said she thinks it was a "huge error" to let this permit go through.
"Our wetlands should only ever be considered to be infilled if it's saving critical infrastructure, [or] it concerns the safety of Islanders," she said.
"That's not what we're seeing. We're seeing they're getting permits not as a last resort, but for resorts. So permits are being issued for development, for golf courses, and we have so few wetlands on the Island, we have to preserve them."
Laiskonis is calling for P.E.I. legislation to be changed to protect wetlands.
"It hasn't been changed since 2007, and we are living in a very different world now, with storms coming at us, like post-tropical storm Fiona, Dorian," she said. "We need that legislation to not allow wetlands to be infilled — period."
Wetlands are useful for mitigating flooding in areas near the shore, as well as offsetting carbon output by acting as a carbon sink. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said wetlands are considered "the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs."
No community consultation?
On another note, Laiskonis said the community should have been consulted about the decision to let wetlands be filled in for a recreation purpose.
"Is a golf course and a luxury resort and condominiums giving back to the community? No," she said.
"There should have been a consultation process with the community to see if they valued those 27 acres of wetland. And to my knowledge, there was no such process, and no such process exists."
Another concern she mentioned was the $406,500 the Ocean View developer paid the province as part of obtaining the permit to do the infill work.
"The compensation won't serve us down the road. This is not the legacy we should be leaving. Our ecosystem services should not be transactional; we need to protect our Island so that generations to come can enjoy it," she said.
"We are literally cannibalizing our Island for meagre, meagre profits."
Developer's response
A representative for the Ocean View Resort developer, Nicolle Morrison, sent CBC News a statement saying the work is being carried out with "full regulatory [oversight] and in compliance with all provincial environmental standards."
She also said the company is not completely getting rid of wetlands.
"Importantly, we are not eliminating wetlands without replacement. The final design of the golf course includes the creation of several new lakes and enhanced wetland systems, designed to improve storm water management, support wildlife habitat, and increase ecological resilience."
Morrison also said the project will have a new "modern underground irrigation system and a comprehensive drainage system throughout the course."
Following up on Laiskonis's interview, the P.E.I. Watershed Alliance sent CBC News a statement outlining concerns not addressed by the developer's reply.
"We must emphasize that our concerns lie not just with the implementation, but the policy that enabled this permit to be granted in the first place," it read.
The alliance urged a re-examination of the permitting process, saying "some systems simply cannot be recreated once lost."
The $406,500 contribution will be used to support future wetland creation/restoration projects that seek to offset the functional impacts of the wetland alteration.— P.E.I. Environment, Energy and Climate Action Department
An official from the provincial Environment, Energy and Climate Action Department said in an email that a complaint regarding the project has been investigated and they are satisfied with the work done to prevent runoff. In addition, the email pointed out that the compensation from Ocean View will go to a good cause.
"The $406,500 contribution will be used to support future wetland creation/restoration projects that seek to offset the functional impacts of the wetland alteration."
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With files from Nancy Russell