Ucluelet gas bar proposal sparks water worries

A proposal to build a gas station atop an aquifer and community drinking water source is causing alarm for some members of the Ucluelet First Nation.

In a sign of the post-treaty changes in the region, it's the Ucluelet First Nation government that is proposing the development.

The gas station is under consideration as part of a commercial development on land recently acquired by the First Nation as part of the Maa-Nulth Treaty.

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"Indigenous people are fighting for clean water everywhere across the world, including in Canada," Ucluelet band member and community activist Jenny Touchie told On The Island host Gregor Craigie.

"Why are we suddenly looking at putting a fuel station on top of our water supply?" 

The gas bar and commercial centre is being eyed for the junction where Highway 4 branches off to Tofino and Ucluelet — the site of a former transportation and highways works yard.

'The best retail site on the West Coast'

The Ucluelet First Nation's economic development officer Chris Burger acknowledged concerns about the potential risks of building a gas station on top of an aquifer.

However, he said the economic value of the site is unparalleled.

"What they're really looking at doing is utilizing probably the best retail site on the West Coast for a commercial centre," Burger said. "That would be the first thing you come to, when you essentially access the West Coast of Vancouver Island."

Burger said the site is not a pristine location. It was previously a provincial works yard used for maintaining vehicles and storing road salt.

He also said the development is far from a done deal. 

"We're doing this the right way, spending about $100,000 in grants we've received to do an environmental assessment and subsoil testing," Burger said. "And we really don't know if we can proceed here until we have that information." 

Burger, who is a former mayor of Parksville, said significantly more information will be available for Ucluelet First Nation members in time for an upcoming assembly in December. As well, he said, the First Nation's new self-government model includes strong opportunities for community input.

"The community can actually force a vote — a referendum if you will — on any major project," Burger said.

In Touchie's view, that's not how government decision-making has been done to date. 

"This government has been in power for 16 months now, and we have yet to receive proper consultation on any of the projects, so it's not just the fuel station," she said.

With files from CBC Radio One's On The Island

To hear the full story, click the audio labelled: Gas station on Ucluelet First Nation aquifer far from done deal