Set ten

PROPOSED 200
AT
TYNEHEAD REGIONAL PARK

'ynehead Regional Park comprises 640 acres
256 hectares) on the uplands of North
lurrey west of the junction of 176th St.
ind Highway 401. In 1973 the Tynehead
joological Society was formed by volunteers
sponsor a zoological garden in the park.
ne GVRD Board and Parks Committee have
mdorsed in principle the society's proposal
d now wish to lease most of the park for
e development of the Zoo.

 

   
  
    
  
   
 
   
   
  
  

e 200 plan includes many attractive
eatures of value to education research,
ionservation and recreation. Terrestrial
mimals of Canada and Africa will be em-
jhasized. The site has many advantages,
ut its limited size (490 acres will be
eased) and its soil (loamy clay) and high
ainfall may pose some difficulties.

e main problem is that the capital costs
lone were estimated in 1974 at $19,000,000
a the society assumes "...that most will
me from government sources."

| kilometers north of the proposed zoo lies
urrey Bend the last natural fresh marsh

d swamp on the lower Fraser River. It
the haunt of beaver, deer and a great
ariety of waterbirds.

ue to its importance as a floodway of the
iver, further development there has been
topped, and in November 1976 Surrey Council
greed that its best use would be as an
cological reserve and nature park. But it
s all privately owned and there are insuf-
ficient funds to purchase it back into
ublic ownership.

16 kilometers north of the proposed zoo lies
the Pitt Wildlife Management Area consisting
of almost 3,000 acres of public greenbelt
land and a 660 acres public shooting area.
The Fish and Wildlife Branch plans to extend
the public shooting area over approximately
three quarters of the greenbelt, including
all the richest marsh habitat. Its plan

} contains little provision for recreational
uses by the non-hunting public and funds
for such uses are seriously lacking.

.

 

 

 

This great area of public lands and waters ‘
lies only half an hour's drive from Vancouver
and contains wild populations of cougar,

black bear, deer, bald eagle, osprey and

the last remnant of the Fraser Valley's nest-
ing population of sandhill cranes. It is

rich in water birds and is one of the few =
places in the lower mainland visited by
trumpeter and whistling swans.

It seems to me both paradoxical and tragic
that we should lack.the necessary funds

to conserve and enhance the native wildlife
in these splendid natural areas that we are
fortunate to have left so close to Vancouver,
and yet be able to discuss the possibility
of spending $20 million on a Zoo.

Three public meetings have been called by
the G.V.R.D. to discuss the 200 proposal:

24 May, 7:30 pm main hall, Surrey Exhibi-
tion grounds

25 May, 7:30 pm Planetarium-Centennial
Auditorium, 1100 Chestnut, Vancouver

30 May, 7:30 pm Port Moody Social Recrea-
tional Centre

George Wootton has kindly agreed to allow

a short period for discussion of this topic
during the college-wide Personnel Dev. Days.
Please give it some thought because I would
like to hear your views before attending n~@®
of the public meetings.

 

THIS "SIP-PERB" OPPORTUNITY IS YOURS!!

Wine Tasting!
Wine Appreciation!
Imported Wines!

Special session by Ted Appleby, former
lounge manager and wine advisor for Vancouver
Board of Trade. The first 50 faculty or staff
to nod at Robin Ryan by phone (521-4851, 278
or 530-0118) or by inter-campus mail N.W.

get through the doorway.

$2.50 admission to cover costs - 4:30 p.m.
Wed. May 17 - off 4 rm complex following
George's address. Subject to fair response.
Don't forget to stay for wine & cheese and
the five piece band, singer & combo.

HELP LAUNCH A HAPPY SUMMER!!! @

 

Robin Ryan for P.D. Committee

&.