Dear Editor:
I write to correct some inaccuracies and omissions presented in your July 30 editorial, Island Trust, regarding community engagement for port issues on the North Shore, port infrastructure projects and how they are managed.
Your editorial neglected to mention one of the primary organizationsfor ongoing community engagement for port-related matters throughout the North Shore: the North Shore Waterfront Liaison Committee (NSWLC), which is structured like the Island Trust mentioned in your editorial.
The NSWLC was formed in 2009 and has a governance structurethat is diverse and comprehensive, bringing together the three local municipal governments, First Nations, port industries, Port Metro Vancouver, and citizen representatives. This diverse structure has been key to successful community engagement, true dialogue and to developing initiatives for positive change.
A key achievement of the NSWLC is the Rail Noise Steering Committee, formed in 2010, which examined and implemented ways to reduce rail noise. The NSWLC has also hosted events where port industries can learn about best practices in directly engaging with the localcommunity, and where the community can learn about port industries.
The Low Level Road project was developed concurrent with the NSWLC's Rail Noise Steering Committee work. This infrastructure project was a joint initiative of many levels of governmentand government agencies - federal, regional, and municipal - to accommodate rail infrastructure improvement, employee and emergency vehicle access to port terminals,and to remedy structural problems with a major North Vancouver roadway.
Through this joint initiative and the participation of governments and Port Metro Vancouver on the NSWLC, the project was also able to incorporate recommendations for railnoise reduction identified by the Rail Noise Steering Committee.The NSWLC is one of a number of ways Port Metro Vancouver engages with North Shore communities. It is an ongoing example that a governance structure withdiverse and informed members from the local community is successful in encouraging ongoing dialogue, furthering understanding, and achieving positive outcomes.
Christine Banham
West Vancouver
