Surrey city council opposing Surrey coal facility

Climate change campaigners are celebrating a new resolution passed by the City of Surrey opposing the proposed Fraser Surrey Docks Direct Coal Transfer facility expansion.

The Fraser Surrey Docks proposal aims to ship 8 million tonnes of US Thermal Coal per year from its facility in Surrey on the Fraser River, transferring the coal from rail cars to uncovered barges bound for Texada Island, to be loaded on ships bound for Asia.

“This latest motion from the City of Surrey is the last block in an unbroken wall of opposition from our elected representatives across the Lower Mainland. The people have spoken. It’s time the Port read the writing on the wall and put an end to this foolish Surrey coal export plan now,” said Eoin Madden, the Wilderness Committee’s Climate Change Campaigner.

The Surrey resolution follows similar motions from the cities of Powell River, White Rock, Vancouver, Metro Vancouver, and New Westminster. There have been letters of concern from the Mayors of Powell River, Surrey, White Rock and Vancouver. Other municipal leaders have spoken up about the proposed increases in coal shipping capacity, including Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who wrote a letter urging the port authority to consult further before making decisions on these proposals.

“Elected officials, such as Mayor Wright of New Westminster and Mayor Robertson of Vancouver, have voiced the concerns of those affected by this unhealthy project. They have been joined by our chief Medical Officers, who insist an independent health impact assessment is necessary,” Madden said.

Photo: Wilderness Committee