A group of volunteer streamkeepers is hoping an upper section of Byrne Creek will finally see the light of day now that Safeway has put a swath of land up for sale.

"This could be a golden opportunity for Safeway and potential developers to walk the talk and promote true corporate social responsibility and greening," said Paul Cipywnyk, of the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers.

Safeway is selling about 42 acres of land in South Burnaby, right next to Byrne Creek Secondary. The property is between 11th and 14th avenues and from 15th to 18th streets, a space covering roughly eight square city blocks.

According to Cipywnyk, the area used to be a thriving wetland, with frogs, dragonflies and wildlife, but the creek was run through underground pipes so the land could be developed. For years, the streamkeepers have wanted to "daylight" that section of creek by bringing it to the surface again.

"When I saw the news that Safeway is selling that property, I thought, 'Wow, what an opportunity,'" Cipywnyk said.

The City of Burnaby has the area listed as multi-family residential in its official community plan, and Cipywnyk said water features, like creeks, often increase the value of residential property.

Also, the streamkeepers are not asking for big buffer zones around the creek, they just want it visible to increase awareness that the waterway runs through the neighbourhood.

"A lot of the pollution impacts in the creek come from that upper Edmonds area," Cipywnyk said. Thanks to people apparently dumping chemicals down storm drains, the creek's fish population has been threatened and completely wiped out in the past.

"A lot of people don't realize that all the drains on the streets connect to the creek," Cipywnyk added.

The Safeway property went up for sale on June 1, but with no listed price. Safeway plans to take offers until July 5.