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bcmclogo

Blackcomb Helicopters axes controversial element of heli-biking application

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Old but relevant news.

I have expressed concerns pertaining to the large quantity of recent heli-tenure applications (in this case Blackcomb Helicopter's Heli-biking tenure being just one of many).
While on one hand I do believe that commercial tenures and operators are very often beneficial for both recreation, employment and the economy, it is important to still be mindful of their long term environmental impacts.
While I did not oppose this tenure outright, I did have several questions in terms of how local wildlife, vegetation and water would be affected in the Tenquille Lake area. I asked the government for data on these ecological elements to help guide my thinking on this tenure, and their response was that there wasn't any.
As a result of feedback from public stakeholders such as the Pemberton Wildlife Association (and perhaps myself), Blackcomb Helicopters has voluntarily withdrawn their trail proposals for the Tenquille Lake area.
I could have supported this proposal had there been answers to my basic questions and a plan for long term management. MFLNRO simply didn't have the resources and data in place.
Again, as in my position with BC Parks, land use decisions should be made in the context of balancing the needs of both recreation and conservation. In this case, I think the outcome was reasonable given the broader context, resources and information available.
Hopefully if and when an application like this comes around again I will receive the answers to my questions and will be able to enthusiastically support it.

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Blackcomb Helicopters has taken the Tenquille to Owl Lake Recreation Area (TOLRA) out of its heli-biking tenure application.

BLACKCOMB HELICOPTERS is altering a contentious heli-biking tenure application for the Pemberton Valley after significant public and stakeholder opposition.

The company—which has been offering heli-biking in the Pemberton Valley for more than a decade—has decided to axe an element of its application that would have seen it build three trails in the Tenquille to Owl Lake Recreation Area (TOLRA).

"We opted to remove the TOLRA from our application in the interest of the public," explained Andy Meeker, base manager for Blackcomb Helicopters.

"It seemed like the right thing to do from the input we received."

Reference:  https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/sea-to-sky/blackcomb-helicopters-axes-controversial-element-of-heli-biking-application-2507997