Royal City residents are invited to weigh in on a plan that could see about four million tonnes of grain shipped out of Fraser Surrey Docks annually.
Fraser Grain Terminal Ltd. is proposing to build a grain-handling facility at Fraser Surrey Docks, which is located across the Fraser River from Westminster Quay. The facility would be used to ship bulk grain products including wheat, barley, oil seeds, pulses and other speciality grains.
Tom Corsie, vice-president of real estate for the Port of Vancouver, said the proposal is currently at a preliminary review phase. He said the public comment period for the preliminary project inquiry runs until Dec. 1 and is about the scope of technical studies that would need to be done by the proponent.
“This is almost pre-consultation, preliminary consultation,” he said. “We have not agreed to accept an application from this group yet. We said, ‘Get out there into the community and do some consultation.’”
Community members are invited to attend Fraser Grain Terminal Ltd.’s drop-in and meet its project team on Saturday, Nov. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Old Crow Coffee Co., 655 Front St.
In a notice mailed to properties in proximity to the project, Fraser Grain Terminal said the new facility will have a modern design that minimizes noise and dust from grain-handling operations and will replace a “derelict manufacturing warehouse” on a vacant port land that hasn’t been used for more than two years.
At the end of the preliminary comment period, Corsie said the Fraser River Grain terminal group is required to submit a consultation summary report to the port authority, as well as report that describes how the feedback will be considered in a final project proposal. The Port of Vancouver owns the Fraser Surrey Docks land.
According to Fraser Grain Terminal, technical studies are being undertaken on a number of topics: air quality; biophysical, including vegetation and species-at-risk; environmental management; hazardous materials management; lighting; noise; spill prevention and emergency response; stormwater pollution prevention; traffic; and view and shade.
Corsie recently told city council that the same group that runs the canola production at Fraser Surrey Docks would be investing in the grain terminal. Agreeing with council that “there better be less dust”, he said the company has plans to enclose its canola mash operation, which results in a “big yellow cloud” of dust at the site.
“They have been pressured and they are reacting,” he said. “I have no other information for you as to when that would be approved or would actually happen. They are currently applying to us to correct that problem.”
Corsie was unable to provide an update on a proposed coal transfer facility at Fraser Surrey Docks, a project opposed by city council and many New West residents.
“I wish I could provide an update at this time but the permit, which was issued by the port authority, is currently under a judicial review so we aren’t able to comment much further at this time,” he told council. “We will certainly let you know if anything changes in that regard.”
