Tim Collins/B次元官网网址 staff

The Friends of Island View Beach (FOIVB) are determined not to give up the fight for the future of a natural attraction enjoyed by local residents for nearly a century.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been in this now, and I think the CRD thought weB次元官网网址檇e finally just get tired and go away, but weB次元官网网址檙e just getting started, and we wonB次元官网网址檛 give up,B次元官网网址� said Carol Best, a member of the FOIVB steering Committee.

The latest concerns have arisen following the approval of a new plan for Island View Beach Regional Park by the Parks Committee of the Capital Regional District (CRD), despite repeated calls by the FOIVB to delay the vote because of flaws and misinformation within the document.

One issue involves the actual jurisdiction of the CRD over a portion of the park they intend to regulate. In a 2010 Supreme Court case (Lawrence v. British Columbia (Attorney General) 2010BCSC 309) it was determined that the natural boundary along the coast can be identified by the line where the sand stops and brown organic soil begins. By that reckoning, the land the CRD has designated as restricted may lie beyond their jurisdiction.

The with CRD staff dating back to April 10, 2017, and on June 16, Jason Austin of FOIVB sent an email imploring the CRD to engage a surveyor to establish the parkB次元官网网址檚 boundaries.

Best explained that, regardless of the outcome of a requested survey to resolve jurisdictional questions, the concept of closing down significant portions of the property for B次元官网网址渟and restorationB次元官网网址� is wrong-headed and maintained the CRD has no real plan for what sand restoration actually means.

That contention seemed to be confirmed by CRD director Mike Hicks.

B次元官网网址淪and restoration? ThatB次元官网网址檚 just a word. We donB次元官网网址檛 have any definite plans for sand restoration so I couldnB次元官网网址檛 tell you what that would look like. I think the problem actually is that staff say biologists have identified this as a sensitive area (for species at risk) but I donB次元官网网址檛 personally believe it. IB次元官网网址檝e advocated that they identify the sensitive areas and just fence them off (instead of closing down a major part of the park),B次元官网网址� said Hicks.

The plan will allow for only two access points from the berm trail in the park to the beach,which is not controlled by the CRD, but Hicks doesnB次元官网网址檛 see this as a problem.

B次元官网网址淢ost people walk on the berm but I know people want to get to the beach so they (the CRD staff) have suggested theyB次元官网网址檒l make a nice entrance. But, listen, if people want to climb across the logs, no one is going to throw them in jail,B次元官网网址漵aid Hicks.

FOIVB do acknowledge some positive aspects of the proposed plan, but Best said the possible addition of a second washroom facility doesnB次元官网网址檛 make up for taking away access to a significant portion of the park to the public with no real justification.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not disputing the contention and concerns B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 disagree with them B次元官网网址� but this is a plan at least and if it doesnB次元官网网址檛 work we can change it in a year or two,B次元官网网址� said Hicks, adding, B次元官网网址渁t some point we have to come a point where we say, just do it already.B次元官网网址�

Best disagrees.

B次元官网网址淭丑颈蝉 goes to to the CRD Board on July 12 and people have to call their CRD reps and tell them that making decisions out of fatigue and frustration is not to go. They (the CRD Board) need to tell staff to work with us and get it right. Stop making arbitrary, money wasting decisions that harm the public based on bad assumptions and misleading and even outright false information. WeB次元官网网址檝e been at this for seven years. For heaven sake lets get it right,B次元官网网址� she said.