Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie says his community is united in its opposition to a proposed jet-fuel pipeline from the banks of the Fraser River through parts of the city and into the airport.

Brodie made his comments Saturday while protesters held a demonstration at an open house to introduce the controversial pipeline project to the public.

More than 100 people rallied outside the East Richmond Community Hall on Cambie Road while the consortium hoping to build the pipeline hosted the forum inside.

Brodie emphasized a pipeline through Richmond carrying jet fuel poses a fire risk, and the location of the fuel storage tanks on the Fraser River is a potential environmental nightmare.

“We are totally opposed to this proposal,” Brodie said.

“The City of Richmond has been opposing this plan ever since it was announced.

“We think this plan is a significant risk to the Fraser estuary. Each step has environmental risks and we feel there needs to be other options.”

The group protesting the proposed plan, VAPOR (Vancouver Airport Pipeline Opposition for Richmond) hopes the protest shows public officials the concerns people have about the proposal.

The consortium — VAFFC (Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation) — held the open house to allow people to view, comment on and ask questions about the options available for the creation of a fuel pipeline through Richmond to YVR.

VAFFC wants to barge its own jet fuel up the south arm of the Fraser, off-load it at a marine terminal in southeast Richmond, before piping it through the city to the airport.

The consortium recently added the option of running the pipe up Highway 99 from the terminal.

“I can tell you the people in the City of Richmond are united in their opposition,” said Brodie. “We are dead set in opposing it.”

VAPOR’S Carol Day said the protest group wants to highlight its concerns about having aircraft fuel on the Fraser. “It is an unacceptable risk to the Fraser estuary,” she said.

VAPOR is hoping the federal government takes a look at the risks. “We want Environment Canada to do an environmental review,” she said. “We don’t need a marine terminal on the banks of the Fraser River. It is an unacceptable risk to marine life.

“Why do something environmentally illogical when there are better options? We want all our MPs and MLAs to support us and we’ve just sent out a declaration to them all, asking they commit to the protection of the Fraser River.”

People have until Feb. 1 to comment on the proposal.

The consortium has said a new fuel-delivery model is vital to keep up with future forecasted demand at the airport and that the current source is outdated and unreliable.

Adrian Pollard, the VAFFC’s project director, said fuel tanks as proposed along the Fraser are safe. And he said the present pipeline needs to be upgraded; otherwise fuel will be brought in by trucks, which will clog the roads and only add to the congestion.

“The existing pipeline can’t handle the future capacity, and let’s look at something more efficient.”

Opponents say the consortium’s main motive is sourcing cheaper fuel.

jcolebourn@theprovince.com