A road connecting Mahan Road and Hwy. 101 has become a hot button for people living in that Elphinstone area neighbourhood.
On Thursday morning (Aug. 19) contractor David Longman was met by a dozen citizens carrying placards protesting the loss of a well-used trail. Work on the project was stopped by the action.
"We're here to alert the community to the damage being done to Mahan Trail due to paved roads and the destruction being done as we speak," said Suzanne Smart, one of the leaders of the protest.
The trail, built two years ago, goes from the Sunshine Coast Credit Union at Gibsons Way through a wooded area to Gower Point Road. Designated by the Ministry of Transportation as a right-of-way, it was intended to serve as a potential access route for future development. The developer of the area, a numbered company, has now begun work on the road. The protestors are unable to speak to anyone connected with the company.
According to Smart, there was supposed to be a buffer of trees between the new road and the trail. She said the trees are being removed with no warning or proper signage. Her group is concerned the trail is "becoming unsightly and unsafe." Celia Fisher, Area E director, later clarified that the buffer was a suggestion made by a regional district parks employee. No guarantee of a buffer had been made. Fisher said the trail is well-used by locals and she wants to see it preserved.
Smart, who lives on Mahan Road, said she became aware of the impact the road building would have to the trail only in the past three days.
"There's very little green space left. People need to realize how much green space adds to their property values," Smart said.
"It's all about cars," said another of the protestors, Leonor Luzardo.
But Bernie Mulligan, director with the Sunshine Coast Regional District board, said due process had been done by the contractor and the highways department.
Mulligan said neighbours were advised on either side of the area where the new road is being built, and no problems were encountered.
"The trail is to one side and the road to the other. Highways wants the road done to proper standards," Mulligan said.
Longman had no notice of the protest.
"I showed up to work and found the people here," Longman said. "We've kept to the east side of the road allowance and have saved many trees in the process."
However that's not sitting well with the protestors. They want to know who is benefiting from the sale of timber from the property.
"This is public property. Who gets the money from the trees?" Smart asked. "There was no signage saying [the clearing for the roadwork] was happening. We're sick and tired of going through these processes. Time is of the essence. The trees will be gone forever."
Nevertheless, it appears the protest will be in vain.
"The road's going to be put in," Longman said.
