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Councillor Heather Goulet
Expanding North Saanich Marina
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May 2005 (Last Updated: 30 May 05)
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Here is a perfect example where multi levels of government and stakeholders are intended to function together yet strong competing interests have resulted in a dysfunctional, crazy-making process for all involved. It is very difficult for a Councillor, let alone a concerned person, to begin to unravel all the lines.
In this case, where the Lagoon is Traditional First Nations Territory and one of the oldest Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, most might assume strict precautionary measures would guide the process. In truth most of the agencies have been completely gutted and no longer have the muscle to protect every piece of shoreline. Hired consultants now determine the approach that best furthers the development.
Clearly Local Governments have been given the responsibility to provide an appropriate ongoing consultation process between the agencies, the stakeholders and the public when a proposal of this significance is on the table.
When major re-zoning and amendments to the Official Community Plan Land Use are requested by a developer it is incumbent on a Municipal Council to facilitate an open process. The onus is then on the developer to provide fair representation of the information. How else can a sound decision be made?
It is not good when proponents charge ahead by taking advantage of weaknesses within the system. Not just this community but future generations also lose out when communally inherited natural resources are devoured by the insatiable few.
Sound ecological indicators for ceasing development on the Lagoon were provided in the 1980s by the Province. These have since been confirmed by all those assessing its environmental value. Residents came out in droves then to put a stop to any further expansion and may well again. It is beyond the comprehension of those evaluating this proposal that the District would trade such a valuable resource for 75 parking slots.
The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received. Comments submitted by our readers are the personal views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of North Saanich Online.
Christine Richards, North Saanich
I wish to congratulate Councilor Heather Goulet for her sound analysis of this situation. I commend her for her views. While understanding Mayor Daly's view that no OCP is set in stone, Council's arbitrary decision to ignore such a plan in dealing with land use issues seems to demean the consultative process to which residents continue to be asked to contribute.
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