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08/22/2008
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SORCA Applauds Cash Infusion, SLRD Regional Trails Coordinator
Money for trails, new trail coordinator appointed
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The Squamish Offroad Cycling Association (SORCA) is in full support of the creation of the Sea to Sky Trail Network recently announced by MLA Joan McIntyre Squamish-Lillooet and Regional District Chair Russ Oakley.
"We applaud Joan McIntyre’s efforts to put this issue on the Provincial Government’s radar. $550,000 is a significant contribution and it’s an important first step to mitigating some of the issues facing the recreation community's concerns. SORCA is also very pleased to see the SLRD stepping up to the plate," says SORCA’s Vice President, Craig Davidiuk.
He went on to say, “We would also like to express our gratitude to Todd Pope, District of Squamish Trails Coordinator, Tim Hoskins from Ministry of Sport Tourism and Arts, MLA Joan McIntyre and the SLRD’s Russ Oakley and his staff. SORCA Past President Cliff Miller also deserves a huge pat on the back. Without his persistence on this issue, this announcement probably wouldn’t have happened. SORCA has always felt that trails are a significant economic generator as well as an integral community asset. We are looking forward to working with the to-be-appointed trails coordinator to ensure that our world-class trail network is properly maintained and that the trail networks are preserved or replaced when development or logging takes impacts existing trails."
The funding will be used to buy signage, kiosks boardwalks and other infrastructure, as well as to establish new trails and preserve existing trails.
SORCA’s Chris McCrum, who is responsible for coordinating, building and maintaining trails on a volunteer basis, was very optimistic. "This money benefits everyone, not just the mountain biking community. It will be nice to have some integrated support from all levels of government. Signage on our local trail network will not only be helpful, it will indicate the difficulty of the trails, making it safer for visitors and locals alike."
SORCA will continue to lobby all levels of government to adopt a "no net loss" policy for trails when development displaces trails. We feel that this initiative spreads the responsibility around and enables all levels of government to move in the same direction.
"We can really maximize this funding by minimizing labour costs. We’d rather see more money going into infrastructure than into wages," says McCrum
SORCA encourages grass roots users of trails from all user groups to join us this spring for trail maintenance days, every Saturday at 10 a.m. Work on the Far Side is nearly completed with the final day of work taking place this Saturday, March 24th at 10 a.m. Meet at the top of Raven Woods. Information on future dates, locations and times is available on sorca.ca or email trails@sorca.ca.
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