Trois-Rivières prides itself on the beauty of its natural environment, while aspiring to have commercial and industrial development worthy of major metropolises! The City of Trois-Rivières claims there is no space left to build businesses in its existing industrial parks, claiming it is now necessary to encroach on the surrounding wetlands and natural environments. Half the members of the city council voted in 2023 in favor of extending what it now calls a technology park. Mayor Jean Lamarche had to tip the vote count to deliver the decision. The other half of the city council voted against the Carrefour 40-55 development.
The park is located at the junction of two major highways: Carrefour 40-55. So-called green industries are to be built as part of Valley of Energy Transition. Innovation et Développement économique (IDÉ), a municipal agency, is in charge of the development. It claims that the economic spin-offs will amount to $508.4 million, including $329 million in direct spending, and bringing in up to $188.9 million in annual taxes. Yet, social acceptance is lacking. Why?
– Carrefour 40-55 is made up of wetlands covering a total area of 328.17 hectares, including two tributaries of the Rivière aux Sables, 2.4 ha of marsh, 34.28 ha of peat bog and 71.08 ha of marshland, for a total of 107.76 ha of wetlands. 733 plant and animal species were identified in 2013, some of which are rare and highly sensitive to contaminants.
– Trois-Rivières relies on a 2014 authorization from the Quebec government, based on environmental studies carried out between 2003 and 2006.
– If these studies were to be redone today, it is doubtful that a certificate of authorization would be issued to the city by the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP) based on current legislation and protections put in place for wetlands.
– Trois-Rivières maintains that it carried out backfilling work within the deadline set by the MELCCFP requirements, but a third party, a private company (ELMEC), backfilled a section of the wetlands around its own plant without acquiring a permit ahead of time.
– Terre précieuse maintains that the figures presented are unrealistic, and that the ecological value of these environments has not been accounted for, which has been confirmed by the city’s Auditor General.
– Recovering and redeveloping existing, low-density industrial spaces should be considered. The development model should also be reviewed. Sharing space and services, such as warehousing, parking and transportation, would generate economies of scale and protect the environment.
Terre précieuse wishes to carry out a comprehensive assessment of Carrefour 40-55, a mandate it has entrusted to TerraHumana Solutions. This assessment will enable us to understand the impact of industrial development using current information, in order to convince government authorities of the merits of preserving the precious wetlands part of Carrefour 40-55.
Such a study requires an investment of $12,000, which is why Terre précieuse needs your support and your donations to help decision-makers make informed, evidence-based decisions.
Click here to access related resources, and click here to see a video from the Terre Précieuse group.
The Legacy Fund is delighted to collaborate with environmental citizen groups to coordinate and finance biodiversity studies for the preservation of the natural areas they defend. We have an extensive network of professionals who can help you obtain, publish and defend your environment through a properly conducted biodiversity survey. Please email us at admin@legacyfundenvironmental.org to discuss a potential partnership, fill in the form on the Propose a case page of our website and/or make a donation by clicking the following link.
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