qathet Regional District directors have allocated $16,000 for the purchase and installation of a new precast concrete pit toilet for Shelter Point Regional Park.
Directors endorsed the expenditure at the July 3 regional board meeting.
At the June 26 committee of the whole meeting, a staff report indicated that the former pit toilet at the Bella Maria area of Shelter Point Regional Park was destroyed by arson in April 2024. The building and plastic holding tank were destroyed in the fire, the report stated.
Electoral Area D director and committee chair Sandy McCormick said there had been another recent arson on Texada Island that was probably unrelated, but with the incidents happening so close to each other, she asked if the police were involved and whether there was an investigation.
Manager of operational services Patrick Devereaux said that a police report had been filed and there was an ongoing investigation.
City of Powell River director Cindy Elliott asked if there was any reason behind the arsons. McCormick said she had heard nothing to that effect but people were upset that this was happening.
“Although it’s a regional park, people on Texada take great pride in that park,” said McCormick.
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said the staff report included three options, including not replacing the toilet, constructing a similar pit toilet to the one that was destroyed, or purchasing and installing the precast concrete toilet. Gisborne said he was unsure about whether the precast option had an above-ground structure. He said from supplied photographs, it looks like it is made out of wood.
Devereaux said the traditional method is a wooden structure that sits on top of a well ring that is sunk into the ground. A septic service comes yearly and pumps out the well ring so that it starts fresh every spring.
Devereaux said the toilet that was burned was an older version and had a plastic tank that also burned.
“The recommended version, the precast one, comes with a concrete tank that has to be pumped out as part of our regular schedule,” said Devereaux.
“With the recommended option, the entire structure is precast concrete. It looks like wood but it is concrete. The qathet Regional Cycling Association put a couple in at Mount Mahony and they are fabulous looking. What really impressed us is the low maintenance on them.”
Devereaux said the precast toilets do have a wooden roof, so that could be susceptible, but it’s easily replaced.
McCormick asked if the board approved the expenditure, would the toilet be available for this summer season. Devereaux said once approved by the regional board, it would be worked on immediately. He said he believed that delivery would be within three weeks.
“It’s a relatively fast turnaround,” said Devereaux.
The committee recommended that the board approve the precast concrete pit toilet at Shelter Point Regional Park, and the board approved the expenditure. The toilet will be funded from the non-statutory reserve for regional parks services.
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