A petition to reject a logging project in the Hatzic Valley has collected over 650 signatures.
The proposed project would feature cut blocks between Kussman Road and Eng Road east of Mission, along with a new logging road.
According to the province’s Forestry Operations Map, the project in question — FOM 2801 — is expected to be in operation from 2026 to 2030.
In a statement to the Mission Record on Friday (March 6), the Ministry of Forests said it hasn’t received an application for a proposed road permit or a cutting permit at this time.
“The licensee is welcome to submit an application for review by the Ministry of Forests,” the ministry said.
The petition notes the history of landslides, flooding and debris flows in the area. It states that approving a new logging road construction would ignore decades of evidence and repeat past mistakes.
“This is not about opposing forestry across British Columbia,” the petition reads. “This is about acknowledging that certain landscapes, especially those with repeated debris-flow history, are inappropriate for logging and new logging road construction.”
Kelsey Vanderhorst organized the petition and didn’t expect 400 signatures in less than 48 hours — now up to 680 as of Friday (March 6).
“The response shows this isn’t just a small group of concerned homeowners – it’s residents across Hatzic Valley who value clean water, wildlife habitat, and responsible land stewardship,” Vanderhorst said.. “Our properties and community safety should not be put at risk for short-term timber extraction and financial gain. The province is considering multiple proposed cut blocks along this mountainside and we want our voices to be united and clear – we are deeply opposed to this.”
Vanderhorst said the proposed logging is directly above residents’ homes, water source, and Allan Lake.
“We’re not against responsible logging – forestry is part of British Columbia’s history and economy – but in this specific area, so close to a sensitive watershed and established homes, it raises serious concerns,” she said.
Another nearby resident on Kussman Road, Olivia Antonello, said she is “deeply disturbed” by the proposed logging area the directly above her property.
“The proposed area to be logged above my property is a massive area on steep unstable terrain with a history of slides. The proposed area goes right up to 2 of the 3 visible slides on the slope directly above my property. During my lifetime it has already happened that environmental studies deemed the area unsuitable for logging that was eventually performed anyway. The result was a massive slide of rocks and debris directly onto my property. There were zero resources provided to remove the debris and was left to (my uncle) to clean up,” Antonello said.
Emalynn Beaune is also a resident of Kussman Road and hopes decisions are made carefully and lessons from the past aren’t forgotten.
“This isn’t just an abstract issue for me — it’s about my family’s home, the safety of my family. My mom purchased this property over 20 years ago, so it’s become a multi-generational property for me. My husband and I moved home here, and we have our two young boys here. So if anything were to happen to this property, it would just be devastating,” Beaune said.
A music teacher who is a nearby resident and wished to remain anonymous said she is not against logging in general but isI shocked the project is being considered “when BC is vast with many mountains to choose from.”
She asked that the cut block plans be put on hold so proper research can be done on behalf of the safety of the area’s residents.
“There has been gross negligence on the part of our government to allow logging of a residential area, with a known history of properties deemed unliveable and actual casualties due to this mountains past landslides,” they said.