PARKS Canada has proposed supplementing ferry service and adding some flexibility in how fees are charged in an update to its bid to add a large chunk of Bowen Island to its Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.
The main changes to the plan see the federal agency proposing an alternate foot-passenger ferry service to the island, the creation of a local park advisory board, agreeing to postpone the addition of fees to the park and some additions requested by island residents, such as an off-leash dog area.
The changes are in response to resident concerns, in particular that the B.C. Ferries service from Horseshoe Bay could be overwhelmed at peak times due to added tourists, and that residents will be required to pay national park fees to get to their homes or enjoy their own neighbourhood.
"That's basically what shaped the revised concept," said Richard Carson, western director for park establishment initiatives.
He said the park would act like a gateway to Canada's national park system for the many residents on the North Shore and the rest of Metro Vancouver.
"A national park reserve on Bowen: it wouldn't be a Stanley park, that wouldn't be what we would be looking for; but nor would it be a Banff," he said.
Yet the proposal has created anxiety among residents, in particular about fees, ferry congestion during peak times and local control.
An extra private ferry service could connect Vancouver to Bowen Island and expand on the existing commuter options available to there, said Carson, adding the Parks Board would enter into a partnership with a company similar to what was done in the Gulf Islands Park Reserve.
While Carson said fees will eventually have to be paid by everyone, including residents, how that's done could be negotiated, including having the municipality buy passes for residents in bulk. As well, no fees would be applied until a park management plan was crafted, at least five years away.
Carson said the park would be a part of the Gulf Islands National Reserve and not separate, but the revised plan proposes a Bowen Island-specific advisory board.
The revised concept plan will come before the Bowen Island municipal council on Monday, where councillors will decide when to hold a community vote - planned for sometime in the next six months.
That vote will decide whether the municipality goes ahead with negotiations with Parks Canada to form the park, said Mayor Bob Turner.
Rob Cairns, chairman of an advisory board created by the municipality to deal with the park proposal, said he was pleased with the way Parks Canada responded to concerns, but said he still wants to see more concrete details.
"It has always concerned me that we may be asked to vote for or against this process before we get to see the details," he said.
While Turner agreed more details were needed, especially on the transportation options, he acknowledged that may not be possible until after a community vote. "We have to respect the fact that this is a concept plan. They can only go so far with respect to many of these concrete details," he said.
tholloway@nsnews.com
