Victoria - After two days, 175 speakers and many cups of coffee, the Public Hearing on the changes to the zoning around the Juan de Fuca trail are continuing for another day.

“The amount of public interest in the project is staggering. This is the first time in the Capital Regional District that a public hearing has been extended to a third day,” said Tria Donaldson, Pacific Coast Campaigner at the Wilderness Committee. “Politicians at all levels should be sitting up and paying close attention to what is happening here.”

Residents of the Capital Regional District (CRD) have been in an uproar about the proposed Marine Trail Resort development, which seeks to build 260 vacation homes alongside the Juan de Fuca trail, which is the third most visited provincial park in the province. The area is currently zoned as rural resource lands, which only allows for 7 houses on the 583 acres in question. The zoning changes being discussed would allow this development to go forward as soon as January.

“It is inspiring to see so many people from across the CRD speaking out against urban sprawl,” said Gordon O'Connor, Vancouver Island Campaigner at the Dogwood Initiative. “The message is clear: We don't want our home sacrificed for reckless development projects.”

Only four speakers spoke in favour of the proposal during the 170 speaker marathon. Speaker after speaker have stood up and spoke to the plethora of issues associated with the project. At 10:00 on Wednesday, over 30 people remained on the speakers list.

“On the third day of hearings, we can expect to see hundreds of more people standing up for our homes from real estate speculation,” said O'Connor.

The Wilderness Committee and Dogwood Initiative are encouraging members of the public to attend the public hearing on Thursday at 5:00pm at Edward Milne Community School (6218 Sooke Road). Carpools will be available from downtown.

For more information please contact:

Tria Donaldson, Pacific Coast Campaigner, Wilderness Committee, cell: 250-686-9249

Gordon O'Connor, Dogwood Initiative: (250) 857-5215