Survey: Whitehorse residents want green spaces over heavy industry

A survey done by the city of Whitehorse indicates most residents don't want to see heavy industry in the city.

Jordan Stackhouse, the city's coordinator for economic development, says peoplewho responded to the online surveywere staunch defenders of natural spaces.

"If Ican give you an example, say there was an opportunity for a pulp factory or an oil upgrader in the middle of Whitehorse, that development simply wouldn't work," Stackhouse says.

"Even though it would add tax dollars, and jobs and that kind of thing. It's not consistent with what people want to see."

More than 800 people responded to the survey which began in late 2014, and wasdesigned to help the city with future economic development plans.

Two big concerns identified in the survey were the cost of living and city taxes.

The majority of the respondents88 per centsay they're happy living in Whitehorse,with 84 per cent saying they are better off living in the citythan elsewhere.