Editor: Re: Conservationists call for gate, traffic restrictions on Norquay access road.
In last week’s article, the general manager of the Mount Norquay Ski Area stated that building a new aerial gondola from the Banff townsite to the top of Mount Norquay would be the best solution to reduce traffic on the Norquay access road through the Cascade wildlife corridor, citing a company commissioned study from the Miistakis Institute as supporting this conclusion.
It's important to recognize that this Miistakis report focuses on a package that includes a proposed new gondola development and mitigating measures for wildlife. However, most of these wildlife measures could be implemented without a gondola, for example, restricting use of the access road, putting in place a wildlife underpass and terrain modifications on Stoney Squaw.
Everyone agrees on the need to restrict use of the Norquay access road, but a gondola is not needed to achieve this. CPAWS and BVN are calling on Parks Canada to install a gate on the Mount Norquay access road, and to restrict vehicles at critical times for wildlife. This solution is straightforward, and is consistent with the study's conclusions, as well as Parks Canada policy and legislation. More importantly, it does not require any new tourism development in an overcrowded Bow Valley where wildlife are struggling to survive.
Building more commercial tourist attractions is not the solution for conserving wildlife, or addressing overcrowding in Banff National Park. What’s needed is an overall visitor use and transportation strategy for the park, as well as a commitment in the next park management plan that there will be no further expansion of the development footprint.
Katie Morrison, CPAWS Southern Alberta
Reg Bunyan, Bow Valley Naturalists
