Development in Waverley West along the banks of the Seine River may have encroached on city property and destroyed old-growth forest.

The city trail proposed in south St. Vital between Southglen and Creek Bend Road is located behind a grouping of condominiums. No stakes were placed to indicate a divide between the developer’s land and the city-owned scenic trail.

David Watson, president of Save Our Seine – a community environmental organization seeking to preserve the Seine – asked the City naturalist to investigate.

“When any environmentalist sees oak trees being bulldozed, you feel an emotional response. The questions begin when you have to ask where the city property ends and the developer’s begins, especially when there are no markers and flags to tell you which is which. Trees were being cut right up to the community path and on the other side,” said Watson.

According to Watson, there is little recourse even if the developers crossed the city property line. Usually a fine is all that gets handed down.

“ When any environmentalist sees oak trees being bulldozed, you feel an emotional response.

David Watson, president, Save Our Seine

“Some developers act first and explain later,” he added.

This is confirmed by Rodney Penner from the City of Winnipeg Naturalist Services, who is conducting the investigation. This process involves determining property lines, which he said is “too close to call with a simple walk-through.”

“We don’t take a very heavy-handed approach in these sorts of situations. The penalty depends on exactly what is involved and what is outlined in the bylaw. It can sometimes be restoration that we require, especially if a mistake was made,” said Penner.

Bev Sawchuk, former president of Save Our Seine, sees the detrimental consequences of development as being akin to our own self-destruction.

“The point I want to emphasize is that all life forms, human beings included, are intimately and intricately linked to the life support system we call earth. And the fact that we continue to ‘spoil our own nest’ boggles my mind,” Sawchuk wrote in an e-mail. “While some developers have realized the benefits of ‘building green’ others choose to remain oblivious to how their actions negatively impact all life forms.”

For now, Watson said he is content to wait until the city has completed its investigation.

“Our goal is to take the edge off development. We want to make the best of the situation. We want people to be aware and speak out when they see these things going on. Often, you have to go through several layers to find out what is really happening.”