ROCKY HARBOUR Local tourism organizations are keeping an eye on a possible monitoring mission from a UNESCO committee that could put the park’s world heritage designation at risk.
The committee is meeting this week in Cambodia and Gros Morne National Park was discussed. Members reportedly have growing concerns about a proposal by Shoal Point Energy Ltd. and Black Spruce Exploration to hunt for oil in the shale rock layers in enclaves surrounded by the park.
Gros Morne was designated as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1987.
UNESCO members said in a draft decision that an environmental impact assessment should be done on the possible impacts of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, with results to be shared at the committee’s next meeting in 2014.
Fracking utilizes a blend of pressurized water, gravel and chemicals underground to crack the rock. Although its use has led to massive amounts of oil and gas discoveries all over North America, it has also cast doubts on its effects on the environment and health of communities close to drill sites.
Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador chairperson Darlene Thomas said her organization is not against oil and gas exploration, but would like to see certain assets protected. She said figures show that tourism in this province has already surpassed $1 billion spent by visitors each year, and to do anything to affect the industry would be wrong.
“We’re hoping that the number will be up to $1.6 billion spent by visitors each year by 2020,” said Thomas. “Tourism is a renewable resource, oil and gas is not renewable and to damage what is already here for short-term gain is a major concern.”
As co-owner of an accommodation business in Woody Point, Thomas said her fellow owners seem to believe that everything is happening too fast with too little knowledge about what is happening.
“Those pristine coastlines are here for the people,” she said. “As the world gets busier and busier, places like this are what they’ll be looking for.”
Potential fracking plans have not been filed for environmental assessment, but even the prospect of industrialization in the area has some worried. Raymond Cusson, executive director for the Friends of Gros Morne, said losing the designation would be a disaster from a marketing perspective. He said Gros Morne is a gateway to a potential world heritage coastline, including Port au Choix, Lanse aux Meadows and Red Bay in Labrador.
“Within a couple of days’ driving distance you would have three world heritage sites. That’s a huge opportunity,” he said. “Any industrialization on or near a world heritage site is not right.”
Cruise ships visit Bonne Bay on a regular basis, and Cusson pondered how it would look to ship passengers to see oil exploration on the shores of Gros Morne. He said the roads would have to be utilized by heavy equipment to get to some sites, which could also affect tourism.
“When visitors come in, they’re telling us that they are leaving industrial sites in order to come to a place of pristine beauty,” he said. “No one is telling them that they might (in the future) see burning flares or industrial traffic.”
Earlier this week, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale reportedly acknowledged concerns about the safety of fracking and a lack of specific provincial regulations. She said the environment, as well as health and safety, are a concern for her government.
Robert Cadigan, president and CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association, said it’s important to separate fact from fear. He said there have been thousands of wells fracked in Western Canada, with no environmental damage.
Twitter: WStarDeerLake
With files from The Canadian Press
