Ron Burrell

"The leases proposed by Ocean Blue Cedar are in the worst location possible," said Greenways Land Trust president Ron Burrell in a letter to Land and Water BC.

n Weed warriors: Ron Burrell (right), president of the Greenways Land Trust, and a volunteer work to clean weeds and unwanted brush out of the Campbell River estuary.

Ron Burrell, president of the Greenways Land Trust, warned council about the implications the decision might have."I think there's a bit of a conflict - a bit of a dilemma - that council should look at carefully," he said, pointing out that for years council's policy has been to acquire waterfront property and create park space, not encourage business development. Burrell said although the coffee shop development has a relatively small impact on the waterfront, he would rather see no business along the Willow Point Seawalk."I would prefer to see the waterfront in its natural state," he said.Burrell was backed up by one of the proposed coffee shop's neighbours, who said she would like to see the natural state of the waterfront preserved.Besides, she said, people should go to Willow Point and support existing businesses.

However, nothing was amiss, said Ron Burrell, president of the Greenways Land Trust, who was on the scene overseeing the salvage operation. Pausing occasionally to redirect walkers to the next trail along Dogwood, Burrell explained the logging was a salvage operation by the Greenways Land Trust to clear dead and leaning trees out of the forest. The first reason for the logging, he said, was public safety.
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Over the past three years enough trees have been blown down or are leaning dangerously to make their removal necessary, Burrell said. Some of the trees are also infested with the ambrosia beetle, he added, and need to be cut down before the infestation gets worse.There's another reason for the trees to be logged, Burrell said - the Greenways Land Trust will be able to make about $8,000 from selling the trees. "That will be reinvested into the Beaver Lodge trails," Burrell said.The profit isn't much - Burrell said maintaining the Beaver Lodge trails is expensive because of their length and because of the bridges throughout the lands - but it will be helpful.The money could go into a project Greenways is doing to reduce erosion in the lands, Burrell said.Once the logging is finished, most of the debris - minus trees good enough to be sold - will be left behind.The debris will help build up a natural forest floor and will also help provide additional nutrients in the soil for the rest of the forest.Meanwhile, Burrell said he was impressed with the quality of work being done by Alpine Backhoe Services, who were working throughout the weekend with two excavators and two loggers."I'm feeling confident in them," Burrell said.

Ron Burrell, president of the Greenways Land Trust, said the environmental organization has a number of reasons to supports the plan, which would upgrade the existing decades-old sewer line to an above-ground construction with a walkway on top."Most importantly, from our organization's perspective, this project would provide a unique opportunity to complete an important link in the vision of a greenway loop around Campbell River," Burrell said in a letter to city council."A necessary infrastructure project would be completed, with significant assistance from federal and provincial funds, and a valuable recreation asset would be the side benefit."Burrell said the Seawalk component of the project would benefit all of Campbell River, providing a recreational link for families, commuters, tourists and the general community from the downtown to the existing Seawalk south of Hidden Harbour.
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Burrell also believes a Seawalk extension will also help local businesses."The facilitation of resident and tourist traffic to the downtown core could also potentially benefit businesses in that area," Burrell said.The project would also be good for health."Additions to the greenway network result in people spending more time outside, exercising longer and choosing alternative methods of transportation more often," he said."Over time this can result in decreased health care costs, a better quality of life and cleaner air."Burrell said the Greenways Land Trust also supports the project for several other reasons:

n Ron Burrell - Individual

Ron is a founder and current director of the Greenways Land Trust, an active member of the Beaver Lodge Forest Lands Committee, and the Chairman of the City of Campbell River's Environmental Advisory Commission.

Ron Burrell
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Ron Burrell - President
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Ron Burrell Director

Many thanks to the Beaver Lodge Trust Committee, the GLT directors and members: Ron Burrell, Brian Giles, and Irv Penner and to the Ministry of Forests staff: Rory Annett, Lynda Ostashek, Pam Silver, and Darcy Yule.

Many thanks to GLT directors and members Ron Burrell, Brian Giles, and Irv Penner, and also to the Ministry of Forests staff Rory Annett, Lynda Ostashek, Pam Silver, and Darcy Yule.

Member, Ron Burrell, had prepared a rare treat for us.Ron gave us a potted (as potted as Ron can manage!) history of his magical life.
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Ron had somehow managed to persuade several of the 'old' group to come along to entertain us.What a treat!
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Many thanks to everybody for coming and a big thank you to Ron for inviting these true 'Gentlemen of Magic' to our club.