Update:

A Rocha Canada acknowledges the City of Surrey’s decision to approve the Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for an industrial truck parking facility beside A Rocha’s Environmental Centre and Farm and the Tatalu (Little Campbell River).

We continue to believe that long-term, place-based presence matters, and that the Little Campbell River watershed is worth protecting. We are deeply grateful to the thousands of people who voiced concern over the potential impacts to the Brookswood aquifer and Tatalu watershed.

The A Rocha team is taking a brief pause to reflect and discern the most constructive and meaningful next steps. Our commitment to the wellbeing of the watershed and Semiahmoo Bay and its people remains unchanged.

If you have signed the petition and/or written a letter, we will follow-up with you soon.

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Land use planning for 600 acres in South Campbell Heights has been ongoing in the city of Surrey since 2012. In February of 2022, the Metro Vancouver Board voted (narrowly) to approve Surrey’s plan to change the designation of this ecologically significant area from Rural Agricultural to Mixed Employment, literally paving the way for industrial uses. After 13 years of planning and advocacy by A Rocha to strengthen habitat, aquifer, river and species at risk protection, a few months ago, we became aware that the City of Surrey plans to install its largest ever industrial truck parking complex (240 trucks) immediately adjacent to A Rocha's Brooksdale Environmental Centre, beginning in summer 2025 under a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) process which bypasses most environmental controls and contamination mitigation. Dozens of trees (150-year-old firs) have been felled already. This type of use (industrial scale on permeable gravel) and footprint (12 acres) is contrary to recommendations of the Integrated Stormwater Management Plan (ISMP) for the area. The report highlights the sensitive, shallow and complex groundwater aquifer, how influential the aquifer is to the health of Tatalu (Little Campbell River), and recommends technology to capture and treat all contamination from industrial uses.

Take Action

1. Sign this petition to advocate for a more suitable location with less environmental impact, to alleviate the impacts of noise, air, light and groundwater pollution. No one wants a contaminated aquifer, a polluted river, or a long-standing community charity compromised in our work of organic farming, ecological restoration and education programs with children and vulnerable populations. 

There is a way forward for land use planning that provides employment, stewards conservation values, and contributes positively to the city’s goals and vision, but the current plan threatens most or all of these outcomes.

2. Write a Letter

The Temporary Use Permit application for truck parking on the City of Surrey-owned lands is officially open – the time has come to send your letters and make your voices heard! The amount of letters and emails matters, so please share with colleagues, concerned partners and neighbours, students and your communities.

DEADLINE: Monday, June 23 at 12pm PDT

Please reference the following in your subject line:

LOCATION: 19230 – 20 AVENUE - PROJECT NO: 7925-0126-00

And send your letter to the following email addresses:

To: clerks@surrey.ca 

Cc: rob.stutt@surrey.ca, pardeep.kooner@surrey.ca, mike.bose@surrey.ca, mandeep.nagra@surrey.ca, linda.annis@surrey.ca, harry.bains@surrey.ca, ghepner@surrey.ca, doug.elford@surrey.ca, mayor@surrey.ca, JBrar@surrey.ca, rgill@surrey.ca, Harpreet.Sondh@surrey.ca

Bcc: british.columbia@arocha.ca

Guidelines for Writing your Letters:

Here are some reflections to inform writing, but make the letters your own – cut and paste form letters are not as effective.

Incompatibility of Land Uses:

Large scale industrial truck activity with associated air pollution, noise, oil and gas contamination will negatively impact the groundwater (well water), and does not ensure safe water supply or acoustic barriers.

Request a Different Truck Parking Location:

Please consider moving Truck Parking to City-owned Stokes Pit to the north, as a viable alternate site. This would place truck parking on lands already impacted by industrial use, with no residential neighbours.

Reduce Pollution Impacts of Truck Parking:

The proposed truck parking will lead to a contaminated aquifer and hence, polluted river. A ground barrier and water separation to contain contaminants and runoff plan are needed.

Long Term Visioning:

This proposal threatens to undermine years of advocacy and work on ecosystem stewardship and restoration in South Campbell Heights, the watershed, and Semiahmoo Bay. A plan for employment, conservation, and alignment with Surrey’s goals, are all possible.

3. Share this petition with your networks!

Find us on Facebook & Instagram

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More details:

https://arocha.ca/land-use-changes-opportunity-threat/