Saanich will offer a helping hand in the replacement of a popular walkway in a local nature sanctuary.

Council unanimously passed a motion Tuesday that asks staff to B次元官网网址渄evelop options for councilB次元官网网址檚 consideration to provide funding toward the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary boardwalk replacement.B次元官网网址�

The needs about $800,000 to replace the floating walkway that currently runs across the lake at a length of more than 300 metres. Made out of cedar boards, it opened in 1991 and ranks among the most popular tourist destinations in the region, as the sanctuary draws some 65,000 visitors annually and serves as an ecological educational centre for students across the Greater Victoria region.

The society has so far raised $350,000 through its B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址� campaign to replace the current cedar boards with fibreglass sheets said to be longer-lasting and eco-friendlier.

The issue arose after Coun. Fred Haynes and Coun. Dean Murdock brought it up last week. Haynes said Saanich has a number of tools including interest-free loans and community contributions from nearby development. Without SaanichB次元官网网址檚 help, the state of the walkway would continue to decline, potentially exposing Saanich to liability, said Haynes. He also expressed concerns that the need for constant upgrades would exhaust volunteers.

Council asked staff to investigate funding options after hearing from neighbourhood leaders and Kathleen Burton, executive director of Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Society among others.

Haji Charania, president of the North Quadra Community Association, urged council to help fund the walkway. Portions of the walkway have deteriorated to the point that they have become dangerous, he said. The walkway needs a new lease on life to make it safe and enrich the visitorsB次元官网网址� experience. The sanctuary represents a B次元官网网址減recious natural assetB次元官网网址� for Saanich and the walkway is a B次元官网网址渧italB次元官网网址� part of it, he said.

Burton said the need to replace the floating walkway dates back several years. While initial estimates pegged the replacement cost at $400,000, that figure has now doubled. B次元官网网址淎nd if we donB次元官网网址檛 do it soon, that number is going to grow,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e really, really, really need the help.B次元官网网址�

Burton said in an earlier interview that the bridge will also help improve the experience of visiting the sanctuary.

B次元官网网址淭hat is a way for us to tell our story more,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t is a way for people to get out in the middle of lake, where they wouldnB次元官网网址檛 normally be able to be and get a different view and often see a lot of different things that they wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to see. But it is also for educational programming.B次元官网网址�

The new boardwalk will actually be above water, thereby serving as a wildlife corridor for muskrat, otter, waterfowl and other creatures. It will also feature so-called B次元官网网址榯eaching podsB次元官网网址� where visitors can learn more about Swan Lake and its unique ecosystem.

The More than a decade earlier, the District of Saanich had started to acquire land around Swan Lake and Christmas Hill with the aim of B次元官网网址渞etaining the area in its natural state, for the use and enjoyment of the public.B次元官网网址�

CouncilB次元官网网址檚 direction to staff passed unanimously. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a big fan of options,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Susan Brice. B次元官网网址淭his will be an important piece of information to come forward.B次元官网网址�