The Great Miss-Stake - Press Conference September 29, 2011

The Friends of McIntyre Creek held a press conference today at McIntyre Creek to inform press and the politicians running for election where the proposed Porter Creek D development would be place, and how the proposed road from Whistle Bend would run over the McIntyre Creek and damage the surrounding area.

It was well attended by both press and members of the political parties running in the current territorial election.  A local school group cycling through this area during the Press conference, also stated their love of the area, and desire to see it remain undeveloped.

Sept 28, 2011

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“The Great Miss-Stake”

 Before You Vote Consider What Middle McIntyre Creek Could Look Like.

The Friends of McIntyre Creek have staked part of Middle McIntyre Creek to show where housing and roads could be constructed if City of Whitehorse proposals go ahead. Middle McIntyre Creek is the part of the McIntyre Creek watershed between the Alaska Highway and Mountainview Drive.

The Friends of McIntyre Creek’s intent is to help residents better understand where the  proposed Porter Creek D subdivision and roads connecting Whistle Bend to the Alaska Highway would be. The City of Whitehorse intends to consult about the proposed Porter Creek D subdivision, and roads across and parallel to McIntyre Creek, in the near future.

“In my experience people often don’t pay attention to consultations because they don’t fully understand what is being proposed,” said Friends of McIntyre Creek Vice President Gerry Steers. “We want to give people an idea of what Middle McIntyre Creek could end up looking like unless people who care about this area make this into an issue in the territorial election. The land is owned by Yukon government, it would be sold by Yukon government for housing, and the roads would be developed and paid for by Yukon government. People really need to ask their candidates in the territorial election whether a government led by their party would protect McIntyre Creek.”

The Friends of McIntyre Creek (FOMC) also say that the Yukon College Endowment Lands, which have not been designated and transferred, are a Yukon government issue. FOMC fears that the College Endowment Lands could end up being a nothing but a sliver of land. 

“This is a really important area for education. There are diverse types of habitat, including wetlands and old growth forest here,” said Steers “and it won’t be any good for nature education if it is full of roads and houses – except education about the fact that after a natural area is destroyed it can’t be re-created.”

The Friends of McIntyre Creek are encouraging Whitehorse citizens to have a look at the area that FOMC has staked, and then look at the development in Whistle Bend to get an appreciation for what could occur if Porter Creek D and roads to link Whistle Bend with the Alaska Highway are built – before voting. 

“The City says that the huge clear cuts in Whistle bend were a result of a mistake – well it would be a huge mistake to build any roads and houses in Middle McIntyre Creek at all,” said Steers.

The attached photos are of the construction ongoing in Whistle Bend Phases 1 and 2 (Sept. 23, 2011) and what a new road clearing looks like.

The Friends of McIntyre Creek are working to maintain urban natural habitat and preserve a valued area for future generations of Yukon people. This issue is already being raised at the door with political candidates in the ridings near McIntyre Creek.

The attached map is what the City was last proposing as a development for Porter Creek D in the McIntyre Creek area.