Local photographer highlights beauty of Fraser Foreshore Park and concerns about GRO facility

Chris Parlow uses his photography as a way to document his love for Fraser Foreshore Park.

The retired New Westminster resident refers to himself as a “passionate photographer” who spends much of his time in local parks, surrounded by nature.

Parlow has captured the diversity of wildlife in the park, including eagles, beavers, otters, coyotes, muskrats, and an array of birds.

“I’ve had the good fortune to … be in that area for the last … 15 years now. And it’s a tough choice to make where I’m going to go other than there,” said Parlow.

But the prospect of the City of Burnaby’s Green Recycling and Organics (GRO) facility being built on 21 acres of dedicated parkland at Fraser Foreshore, has Parlow—along with many others—concerned.

“It was just devastating to hear,” said Parlow, when asked about the proposed facility.

The city has carved out an area at 4800 Riverbend Dr. where the GRO facility could potentially be built.

While Parlow takes his photos from all parts of the park and not just the specified site where the GRO facility could be built, he is worried about what could potentially happen to the wildlife and ecological habitats in the area the city is aiming to build the facility.

“When it comes to the displacement of parks and the introduction of industry … is an awful lot of busyness, and to go ahead and replace the serenity that’s there, that is part of the entire Fraser River area, the wetlands … and all of it,” he said.

“I just find it difficult to believe that there isn’t another area in Burnaby somewhere that can accommodate to Burnaby’s needs.”

Last week, the city released a 104-page environmental assessment report, which noted that it will aim to restore and enhance more fish habitat and swampland through mitigation measures than it would lose.

According to the report, the specified site was cleared and used for agricultural purposes between 1930 and 1965.

“Approximately 8 ha of floodplain forest, marsh and swamp wetland habitat would be lost as a result of the Project development activities, including a loss of habitat function in the form of loss of habitat for amphibians and lost foraging and breeding habitat for migratory birds,” states the document.

The park and development area is home to several species considered at risk in Canada, including the little brown myotis, great blue heron, and barn owl.

There are also salamander, frog, turtle, bat, and many bird and insect species that frequent the park and the site area.

Among the fish species present in the river and adjoining waterways are chinook and pink salmon, “which may use part of the downstream habitat for juvenile migration and rearing in the spring to mid-summer”, along with lamprey, flounder, catfish, and others.

The report also notes, however, that most of the fish habitat within the project area is considered marginal or poor in quality.

The project plan has outlined mitigation strategies in the form of restoration, enhancement and preservation to offset the impacts of construction.

“Combined on and offsite restoration and enhancement mitigation efforts achieve an overall habitat gain to loss ratio of 3.2:1. The City has also committed to permanent preservation of 4.3 ha (10.6 acres) of high functioning existing forested swamps, currently designated for development, to add to existing park area in Burnaby,” states the report.

However, the report acknowledges that initial mitigation efforts like avoidance and minimization “cannot fully avoid all impacts to fish and fish habitat, wetland and riparian areas, and wildlife area and function.”

In a previous interview with Burnaby Beacon, Mayor Mike Hurley said that the 21 acres of land needed for GRO are “very hard to find.”

“Staff did look at all of our properties and there was just nothing else that could meet the needs of what needs to happen there,” he said.

The city’s alternative approval process (AAP) is currently underway to gain the assent of the electorate to move ahead with the proposal.

Those who oppose the proposal must send in an Elector Response Form to city hall (by mail or in person) by April 28. Those who support the proposal do not need to return a form.

If the city receives less than 16,250 submissions voting against the project (10% of the city’s electorate) by April 28, then council may proceed with the project.

While the form itself is available for download from the city’s website, there is no option to send in your vote electronically. You must print the form, fill it out, and then send it by mail or drop it off in person.

While Parlow is not a Burnaby resident, he said he feels passionate about expressing what the park means to him and so many.

“Whether it’s predators or whether it’s the other birds, it’s just a beautiful spot along the Fraser River,” he said. “And to see it in any way disrupted because of a waste facility that needs to be as large as this in order to accommodate the … Metro Vancouver region, is pretty much unfortunate.”

With files from Srushti Gangdev.