The B.C. government has made a final decision on two permits issued under the Heritage Conservation Act for a private property on the 1300 block of Southwest Marine Drive, also known as the Marpole Midden site.

The Heritage Investigation Permit 2011-1376 is being extended until Nov. 1, 2012, to allow the developer time to meet the requirement to return Lots 4, 5 and 9 to their original conditions before the burial complex was discovered.

In addition, the Site Alteration Permit 2011-0210 will expire as of Sept. 30, 2012. In making his decision to not extend the permit, the statutory decision maker noted that the discovery of the burial complex changed the heritage value of the site, and that site alteration is no longer appropriate based on the current building design.

The decision to allow the permits to expire after weeks of extensions is appropriate, given the lack of progress in the negotiations between the developer and the Musqueam Indian Band around the purchase of the property.

A heritage investigation permit allows the permit-holder to recover any information at an archaeological site that could be lost if development occurs.

An alteration permit authorizes the removal of archaeological material from the site and details the proper care and handling for any materials found.

Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261