If it ainB次元官网网址檛 broke, donB次元官网网址檛 fix it.
That appears to be the message coming from the public when it comes to the Capital Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 management of regional parks and trails.
The CRD recently released a draft copy of its 10-year Regional Parks Strategic Plan. Judging by the response B次元官网网址� or lack thereof B次元官网网址� that came during the reportB次元官网网址檚 public consultation phase, people appear satisfied with the direction being taken.
The document, prepared with the help of a volunteer Citizen Advisory Panel, re-emphasizes many of the key principles of the CRDB次元官网网址檚 last strategic plan, also known as the Master Plan, which was created in 2000.
B次元官网网址淭he majority of the public felt that Regional Parks is on the right path and nature protection and conserving biodiversity should be Regional ParksB次元官网网址� top priority,B次元官网网址� panel chair Dave Chater wrote in the planB次元官网网址檚 foreword.
The level of participation in the planB次元官网网址檚 public consultation phase appears to reinforce ChaterB次元官网网址檚 statement. Despite providing numerous opportunities for members of the public to have their say on important parks issues, the response was modest at best.
B次元官网网址淚 would say that the response we got from people is B次元官网网址榳eB次元官网网址檙e on the right trackB次元官网网址� and to keep moving forward,B次元官网网址� said Jeff Ward, Regional ParksB次元官网网址� manager of planning, conservation and development. B次元官网网址淭he citizen advisory panel was there to read what the community was saying, and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 what they said.B次元官网网址�
Support for the current parks mandate is one of several key points in the draft plan.
It also emphasizes the need to protect the environment while still providing people with adequate recreational opportunities.
B次元官网网址淲e recognize that these lands have many different qualities about them,B次元官网网址� Ward said. B次元官网网址淭hey supply an area for fish (and) salmon-bearing streams, provide a home for wildlife, even help sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gases.
B次元官网网址淏ut theyB次元官网网址檙e also good for the health of people.B次元官网网址�
The plan also focuses on making full use of existing parkland over the next five years. With a land acquisition fund thatB次元官网网址檚 fully committed at the moment, itB次元官网网址檚 time to open new parks and manage the existing ones, Ward said.
Another major principle guiding the strategic plan is that B次元官网网址榥ature needs half.B次元官网网址� The concept proposes that half of the regionB次元官网网址檚 land and water base should eventually be protected. Currently, about 20 per cent of the CRD is protected. The regional parks office hopes to bring that number up to 50 per cent by the end of this century.
The draft plan was received by the CRD at its Aug. 10 board meeting and in all likelihood, it will be approved alongside a supplementary financial plan early next year.
editor@oakbaynews.com
