Clear-Cut Consequences

Hallō Properties promotes its development as ‘sustainable’ while clear-cutting habitat and pushing wildlife out. Do they think we won’t notice?

From destruction of critical wildlife habitat to contradicting Nelson’s climate commitments, the environmental cost of this development is alarming. Below, we outline the key environmental concerns that Hallō’s project raises—and how they may be setting themselves up for future conflicts with the City of Nelson.

Destruction of Great Blue Heron Habitat & Encroachment on Protected Wildlife

The Great Blue Heron, a species classified as vulnerable in British Columbia, has long used the Granite Pointe Golf Course as a nesting and breeding site. Despite warnings from conservation experts, logging occurred dangerously close to their nesting area, with devastating impacts:

• April 2021: Biologist Marlene Machmer and conservation officials alerted Granite Pointe Golf Club to the active heron nests and advised against logging near the area.

• September 2021: Logging began in direct proximity to heron nests despite conservation guidelines recommending a 200-meter buffer zone.

• 2022 Nesting Season: Heavy equipment activity temporarily forced herons to abandon their nests, and fewer fledglings were observed than in previous years.

• 2024 Update: While the herons have returned, experts warn that further construction could permanently displace them.
  

Developer Response: The golf club president denied the existence of nests despite photographic evidence proving otherwise. Meanwhile, Hallō Properties has ignored calls to implement wildlife protections during its construction phase.

A Convenient Change of Story

When initially confronted about the heron nests, Granite Pointe Golf Club president Am Naqvi flat-out denied their existence, telling the media in May 2022:

• It surprises me that we should even talk about a nest, because it doesn’t exist

—Am Naqvi

Granite Pointe Golf Club President
Nelson Star
Nelson golf club president denies existence of threatened heron nests at course
May 2022

Yet, within the same month, Naqvi changed his tune—not to acknowledge past harm, but to downplay the impact of the clear-cutting, saying:

• The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to make a whole bunch of noise. They (the herons) should say, ‘Let’s not even build a nest here, because these people are always going to be bothering us.’

—Am Naqvi

Granite Pointe Golf Club President
Nelson Star
Nelson golf club president denies existence of threatened heron nests at course
May 2022

This is a textbook example of shifting the narrative to justify previous destruction. First, they deny the problem exists. Then, when that fails, they reframe the issue to excuse the damage.

Why This Matters

Herons often reuse the same nests for decades. Without proper safeguards, Nelson risks losing an important wildlife population. The fact that the herons returned despite disturbances does not mean the destruction was harmless—it means they are resilient but not invincible.

Logging into the Creek & Water Contamination

Another environmental concern is the impact of logging on local water systems.

• Reports indicate that logging at Granite Pointe led to runoff and debris entering local creeks, potentially affecting water quality and fish habitats in the long term.

• Nearby ecosystems depend on healthy watershed management, but the rapid clearing of trees increases the risk of erosion, sedimentation, and water contamination.
  

• Wildlife will be less likely to use the creek as a water source now that the foliage and canopy have been removed. Animals will feel more exposed and vulnerable without the natural cover that once provided safety.
  

Why This Matters

Unregulated logging and deforestation directly contradict Nelson’s commitment to sustainable land use and watershed protection.

Encouraging High-Emission Luxury Tourism

Hallō Properties is openly marketing its development to wealthy second-home buyers, encouraging frequent, long distance travel to and from Nelson in direct opposition to the city’s sustainability goals.

Hallō’s own marketing boasts about wealthy Torontonians flying in for a quick golf getaway:

• We have guys in Toronto that are very, very fond of what we’re doing. And their words are basically, ‘I’m in the Maple Leaf Lounge for breakfast. I jump on the Air Canada flight to Vancouver. I then fly into Castlegar and I’m up at your property by 11:45.

—Graham Kwan

Hallō Visionary
Globe and Mail
Small B.C. town woos the luxury buyer
September 2024

The reality? Two flights, a rental car, and a 40-minute drive—just for a weekend golf retreat.

This directly contradicts Nelson’s Path to 2040 Sustainability Plan, which prioritizes reduced emissions, sustainable tourism, and environmental conservation.

Why This Matters

While Nelson is working toward carbon neutrality, Hallō’s business model is pushing for an influx of high-emission luxury tourism that relies on long-distance travel.

Clear-Cutting: Their First Act, Their True Priorities

Hallō’s marketing materials present Nelson—and their own development—as a "sacred place".

They position themselves as forward-thinking, sustainable developers who deeply respect the beautiful spaces. But their very first act of breaking ground was clear-cutting forests and destroying critical wildlife habitat.

Before even starting their proposed $500M luxury community, they may have revealed their true values.

• Rather than beginning with careful, sustainable planning, their first move was to level trees, disturb nesting sites, and ignore conservation guidelines.

• If this is how they treat the land at the outset, what does it say about the rest of the project?

• This may not be a one-time mistake—it may be a preview of their entire approach. 

Hallō’s first action—clear-cutting sensitive habitat—raises serious concerns about its long-term commitment to sustainability.