Alberta's Sunshine Village ski hill has purchased a four-person chairlift from Whistler Blackcomb amid concerns over too much development.

The new lift was installed at Whistler to shuttle Olympic spectators to and from the hill. It will be dismantled and shipped to Sunshine as soon as the winter games wrap-up in March.

Mike McIvor, of the Bow Valley Naturalists, is concerned the new lift could be used to push for further development at the resort.

"That then becomes your lever to push for more and more capacity in your parking lot which isn't situated in a good place for growth," said McIvor.

Sunshine has been lobbying for more parking and an additional lodge to be built at the resort. A long-term development plan will be presented to Parks Canada in the coming weeks.

The new lift is capable of moving 1,800 skiers an hour and will replace the hill's aging Strawberry Chair, said Sunshine spokesperson Doug Firby.

"The Strawberry Chair is the oldest chair that we have at Sunshine," said Firby. "It was installed in the '70s and was made by a company that is no longer in business." Richard Leavens, of the Association for Mountain Parks Protection and Enjoyment, said he has no environmental concerns with the new purchase.

"I think it's just an improvement that Sunshine is doing to give skiers a better experience," said Leavens.

The cost of the chairlift has not been released.

Firby said the lift should be up and running by next ski season.