ONLINE FIRST: Last-ditch effort mounted to save pristine land next to Strathcona Park

In a last-chance appeal to protect a piece of pristine forestry land, representatives from the Comox Valley Regional District are travelling to Victoria next week to make their pitch.

Area C director Barry Minaker is spearheading the most recent string of requests to protect the Pearl Lake basin, at the edge of Strathcona Park.

"My hope is they will see the wisdom of doing this," said Minaker this week about his proposal to the Ministry of Environment.

A meeting has been scheduled for this Tuesday in Victoria to talk about the issue.

In January this year, Minaker brought forward a resolution, which was approved by the board and the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities, asking that Pearl Lake and its environs be included in the park. The 900-metre Pearl Lake is surrounded by pristine timber,  with Douglas firs two to three feet in diameter, said Minaker.

It would protect not only sensitive ecosystems, but also one of the headwaters of Oyster River, he said.

Throughout the 1990s community groups appealed to the land's often-changing owners, asking that the area be protected — to now avail.

Now, with the area around the lake schedule for logging in 2009 by owners Island Timberlands, Minaker said it's important to make the request again.

"Its pristine nature, its uniqueness, its elevation, right next to Strathcona Park. We don't know why it wasn't included in the first place," said Minaker.

He hopes that can be remedied by adding the property to the park, as has been done in other cases around the province, said Minaker.

With the resolution on its way to the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference in September, Minaker said he hopes the province will act in anticipation of the vote.

Minaker will be joined by CVRD chair Fred Bates and Courtenay Dir. Don McRae for the meeting in Victoria.

reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com