More fact-finding needed on future of resource road important for cultural, lake access

HUDSON’S HOPE, B.C. — More fact-finding is needed before a decision is made on the future of a resource road which is due to be decommissioned, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) heard.

The Clearwater Callazon Resource Road, located 20 km past the Hart Lake overpass towards Prince George, which provides important access for recreational and First Nations users to the south side of Williston Lake, is set to be decommissioned. 

A group has been formed to explore the possibility of keeping the road open to the public, now that logging in the area is finished.

The Clearwater Callazon Road not only provides access to the south side of Williston Lake for area recreational users but enables Saulteau and West Moberly First Nations to access cultural areas at the end of the road.

An initial meeting on April 8th was to determine if there was enough interest in forming a group to manage the road and to keep it open for those wishing to participate in recreational activities in the area.

Peace River Regional District’s Area E director Dan Rose was invited to attend the April 8th meeting.

There was quite a bit of interest in keeping the road open, Rose said at a PRRD regional board meeting on April 10th, and the response was good enough to do some more fact-finding.

Area C director Brad Sperling agreed that keeping the resource road open is a good idea, as he says there are some areas back there that may soon become parks.

Additionally, Sperling thinks there’s a lot of interest in both the North and South Peace to keep access to that side of Williston Lake. 

Rose said he will continue to participate in the meetings.