At least 300 people attended a town hall meeting on Thursday night at Douglas College in New Westminster to hear from a panel of speakers on the proposed coal facility at Fraser Surrey Docks.
Speaking on the panel were representatives from Port Metro Vancouver, Fraser Health, the environmental community and Fraser Surrey Docks.
Most of the crowd from the Royal City, as well as a few from neighbouring communities, expressed concern with the coal shipping company's proposal to expand its facilities across the river from the Quay and Queensborough.
Marian Toft, who lives a few blocks from the riverfront in New Westminster, said she worries about the potential impact on the air quality, should the coal proposal go ahead.
"When I lived in Toronto, the solution was that there was an air quality warning and we had to keep the children inside, and I don't think on our river, that in this day and age that we should have to do that and that we should have to keep the children inside in exchange for shipping a product that could maybe be done cleaner," she said.
Fraser Surrey Docks has submitted a project permit application to Port Metro Vancouver to develop a direct transfer coal facility that would handle up to 4 million metric tonnes of coal. The coal would be brought by rail from the United States and placed on barges on the Fraser River and shipped to Texada Island, and from there, to Asia.
Jeff Scott, CEO of Fraser Surrey Docks, gave a presentation on his company's proposal and answered questions about possible health impacts and environmental concerns about the proposal. He also highlighted a plan to add 50 full-time jobs with the coal expansion project.
"Fraser Surrey Docks has been operating for 50 years on the Fraser River and they have a proven track record of safe and reliable terminal operations," he said. "The economic crash of 2008 resulted in a significant downturn in business and forced us to look at new opportunities that will provide jobs, taxes, and support local businesses. We have handled a variety of products over those years in a responsible state and the sustainable handling standard we have provided for those projects will be applied to coal."
Mayor Wayne Wright and city council members unanimously supported a motion from Coun. Chuck Puchmayr on Monday to oppose the shipping of thermal coal from Fraser Surrey Docks, along with many local residents who also voiced their opinion that the proposal is not in the best interest of the community.
James Crosty, who was an independent candidate for New Westminster in the recent provincial election, delivered a petition with more than 900 signatures from residents who are against the plan.
"We don't always agree in this community, but in this case, we all agree," Crosty said, handing over the signed petition to the panel.
Most of the comments and questions from the audience centered on the potential impact of coal ash in the air and on the water when gale force winds occur.
Dr. Paul Van Buynder, Chief Medical Health Officer for Fraser Health, said he is neither against nor in support of the coal proposal at this time because more data is required from Fraser Surrey Docks.
"We want a comprehensive health impact assessment undertaken for this project," he said.
Except for a small minority of those who expressed approval of the potential for job creation, the general sentiment at the meeting was to call for a halt to the project.
Andrew Murray, an environmental activist with New Westminster Environmental Partners, said the proposal to expand the coal industry in Greater Vancouver would be detrimental to both the local and global communities.
"Whether it's burned here or it's burned in China, it's creating a negative impact for future generations," he said. "...This is a 19th century proposal in a 21st century world."
Port Metro Vancouver is currently reviewing the permit application from Fraser Surrey Docks.
To view a broadcast of the townhall meeting on New West TV, visit www.newwest.tv and click on the COAL icon.
To join the conversation, use the hashtag #coalnw on Twitter.
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