Carl Bunnin
Association of Mayne Island Boaters
808 Beechwood Drive
Mayne Island. BC
V0N 2J2
CRD Director David Howe
July 21, 2014
Dear Director Howe,
As President of the Association of Mayne Island Boaters I am writing to express our memberships concern over the lack of marine infrastructure on Mayne Island. Our association has in excess of 130 paid members and is the fastest growing interest group on the Island. Due to my past involvement as a MIRA director I have both attended and followed Ian Dow's meetings with the SGIHC. Based on our Mayne Island experience and from observing the operation of the SGIHC we believe a change is needed.
Mayne Island has only two docks available to the general public: Miners Bay dock is well located for visiting traffic but due to strong currents in Active Pass and large swells from the wake of BC Ferries it is not safe for moorage by local Islanders. Horton Bay dock is located in an all weather bay, perfect for small craft. A court challenge is in process between the Federal Government (Small Craft Harbours) and the upland property owner (Arbutus Bay Estates). The pending trial leaves cause for doubt over the future of Horton Bay. I have been called as a witness for Small Craft Harbours in the upcoming trial.
Our Island is unique among the Southern Gulf Islands for its lack of either public or commercial small craft moorage. Over the past three years we have seen a significant increase in active boaters on the island. The Horton Bay dock is full throughout the winter months and double rafted during the summer. Beside the local demand for moorage, docks provide an important service to our Island. Horton Bay dock plays a critical role for both emergency access and evacuation to and from the Island. The dock is used by residence of Pender, Saturna, Samuel and Lizard Island to conduct commerce on Mayne Island. Our Islands inadequate marine facilities have negatively impacted Mayne's economic development. We receive regular reports of potential new residence choosing alternate communities due to our marine facilities not meeting their boating needs. New residence are a major economic driver for any community; a renovation or new build can provide hundreds of hours if not years of employment for local islanders.
Our association has invested considerable time in researching the building of a community dock at Anson road 1/3 of a mile west of the existing dock in Horton Bay. We have inquired into the possibility of forming a local harbours commission should Small Craft Harbours chose to divest the dock following the law suit. SCH has indicated the CRD would take priority if and when the dock is divested. Such projects place high demands on small communities and support from local government can play a critical role. It is our observation that the need for public docks on Mayne Island is not recognized by the existing system and management structure. Given the the taxes we pay towards harbours, Mayne Island is receiving little if any value through the existing structure of the SGIHC. We are requesting your support by making changes to the current Harbours Commission to allow our Island to have more effective control in improving our harbour facilities.
Thank you for your time in this matter. We welcome any questions you may have.
Regards, Carl Bunnin
Association of Mayne Island Boaters
808 Beechwood Drive
Mayne Island. BC
V0N 2J2
CRD Director David Howe
July 21, 2014
Dear Director Howe,
As President of the Association of Mayne Island Boaters I am writing to express our memberships concern over the lack of marine infrastructure on Mayne Island. Our association has in excess of 130 paid members and is the fastest growing interest group on the Island. Due to my past involvement as a MIRA director I have both attended and followed Ian Dow's meetings with the SGIHC. Based on our Mayne Island experience and from observing the operation of the SGIHC we believe a change is needed.
Mayne Island has only two docks available to the general public: Miners Bay dock is well located for visiting traffic but due to strong currents in Active Pass and large swells from the wake of BC Ferries it is not safe for moorage by local Islanders. Horton Bay dock is located in an all weather bay, perfect for small craft. A court challenge is in process between the Federal Government (Small Craft Harbours) and the upland property owner (Arbutus Bay Estates). The pending trial leaves cause for doubt over the future of Horton Bay. I have been called as a witness for Small Craft Harbours in the upcoming trial.
Our Island is unique among the Southern Gulf Islands for its lack of either public or commercial small craft moorage. Over the past three years we have seen a significant increase in active boaters on the island. The Horton Bay dock is full throughout the winter months and double rafted during the summer. Beside the local demand for moorage, docks provide an important service to our Island. Horton Bay dock plays a critical role for both emergency access and evacuation to and from the Island. The dock is used by residence of Pender, Saturna, Samuel and Lizard Island to conduct commerce on Mayne Island. Our Islands inadequate marine facilities have negatively impacted Mayne's economic development. We receive regular reports of potential new residence choosing alternate communities due to our marine facilities not meeting their boating needs. New residence are a major economic driver for any community; a renovation or new build can provide hundreds of hours if not years of employment for local islanders.
Our association has invested considerable time in researching the building of a community dock at Anson road 1/3 of a mile west of the existing dock in Horton Bay. We have inquired into the possibility of forming a local harbours commission should Small Craft Harbours chose to divest the dock following the law suit. SCH has indicated the CRD would take priority if and when the dock is divested. Such projects place high demands on small communities and support from local government can play a critical role. It is our observation that the need for public docks on Mayne Island is not recognized by the existing system and management structure. Given the the taxes we pay towards harbours, Mayne Island is receiving little if any value through the existing structure of the SGIHC. We are requesting your support by making changes to the current Harbours Commission to allow our Island to have more effective control in improving our harbour facilities.
Thank you for your time in this matter. We welcome any questions you may have.
Regards, Carl Bunnin
