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Friday, December 17, 2004THIRD WRECK BEACH LANDSLIDE REACHES FOR THE TOP
Origin of Slide Closer to Marine Residences ConstructionOn December 9, 2004, a third landslide occurred on the cliff face below the UBC Marine Student Residences construction site. Much larger than the previous two slides of June 21 and November 7, this cliff failure is the third since UBC began construction activities for the Marine Student Residences in June. However, this third slide originated much closer than previous slides to the top of the cliff, and thus, also closer to the construction site.
Prior to UBC beginning construction of Phase 1 of the Residences in June 2004, there had been no documented slides for the past five years on this part of the cliff face! The three landslides that have occurred since construction began, demonstrate increasing frequency and magnitude.
The November landslide wiped out a considerable swath of cliff face vegetation.
The Wreck Beach Preservation Society (WBPS) and the Pacific Spirit Park Society (PSPS) remain concerned about permanent damage to the park including cliff stability, loss of viewscape from the beach, and impact on wildlife and birds posed by habitat loss and migration hazards.
Meanwhile, UBC continues construction with apparent disregard for the fragile bluffs and ecosystem.
Please see attached photo at:
http://www.wreckbeach.org/towers/image0014.jpgContacts:
Judy Williams, WBPS Chair and PSPS Vice Chair, 604-856-9598, 604-308-6336
James Loewen, WBPS Vice Chair, 604-689-9697
Ed Chessor, PSPS Chair, 604-224-0967, 604-822-9707
