Editor,
Re: Surrey streamside protection policy changes get council nod
Is Surrey council acting to protect the shallow valleys through which our local streams flow? Apparently not. Council appears to be prioritizing developers’ needs over environmental protection, with a proposal to allow developers to use land closer to our streams. The newspaper story says a similar proposal was “stomped on by a lineup of speakers” last September.
Council has twice rescheduled a formal vote on the subject. But the community remains strongly opposed. It is still a bad idea to allow development closer than 50 metres to streams (Surrey’s current setback requirement) because:
• Our streams need space to spread out and hold excess water during our heavy rainfalls, helping avoid flood damage to buildings and services
• Our streams are ribbons of living ecosystems, supporting fish and trees and birds, and dense bushes bearing seed and fruit to support the birds. The streams need space for all these living things to thrive.
• 50-metre stream setbacks leave room for current or possible future streamside recreation paths for our rapidly increasing population.
There is a public hearing on May 12 at 7 p.m. at Surrey City Hall. Or you can email your concerns to the mayor and council. If you send your email to clerks@surrey.ca, the mayor and each councillor will receive a copy.
Mark Dalton, president, White Rock and Surrey Naturalists
