The reason for the tree removal is for ATCO Electric to lay a power line in the utility right-of-way in front of the aquatic centre. The supply is meant to power the new joint school facility being built on the corner of Bonhomme Street and Elm Avenue.
On Tuesday, ATCO district manager Rod Carrothers said because of opposition to the tree removal, the power company, Grande Yellowhead School Division, the municipality and Parks Canada are again reviewing their options.
“We want to consider that there’s perhaps a higher value being placed on the particular trees in question than what we might have anticipated in the beginning. So we’re just taking a good hard look at it, making sure we’re doing the right thing.”
This will be the third time the decision has been reviewed. The first two times, the assessment showed that the only option was to remove the trees.
“If the reason for cutting [the trees] is to bury a power line, they can put the power line somewhere else,” said Schaefer. “Humans always think of cutting nature before cutting into some manmade thing, like a road.”
Schaefer said that’s her preferred plan of action—cutting into the road and placing the power lines there, rather than removing the trees to lay the lines in the right-of-way located next to the sidewalk.
But, according to the municipality’s chief administrative officer—who was consulted by Parks Canada before the permit was issued—there are too many utilities beneath the street and sidewalk to add more.
“There’s a complex web of utilities there,” said Peter Waterworth.
So, with that guidance, Parks made its decision to issue the tree removal permit, said Alisson Ogle, communications officer for Jasper National Park.
“For everybody, the desired situation was to keep the trees, but after an assessment of all the options to supply the power, tree removal came up as the only viable option.”
Carrothers said the assessment hasn’t changed, but with the opposition to the project, it’s worth taking another look. He couldn’t say when a decisive decision would be made.
The provincial government announced in May 2011 that Jasper would receive a new school. The following month, a plebiscite was held, asking the community’s permission to swap the dog park land on Bonhomme Street for the current high school site. The land transfer passed with 60 per cent of voters in favour of the exchange.
“There was a plebiscite and the town voted for the school and there are consequences of doing that,” said Waterworth, referencing the loss of trees. “Council is incredibly sensitive to its role in environmental stewardship, but you can’t save every tree.”
The dog park—now the school lands—was closed to the public Aug. 24, 2012 and on Sept. 14, 2012 a golden shovel was thrust into the ground signifying the beginning of construction.
The new $21.3-million facility is set to open for the 2014-15 school year.
