A Savary Island resident has prompted qathet Regional District directors to help take control of problems on the island.
At the April 12 planning committee meeting, resident Jim Sclater stated in correspondence that he recently received an advertisement from a company selling glamping equipment that targeted Savary Island as an ideal place for people to provide this kind of getaway.
“This targeting alarmed me, in that it indicates that Savary is becoming known as a destination for people to visit and stay at for Canadians and others on a bigger scale than previously experienced,” stated Sclater. “Action is needed now before we have more clear-cutting and degradation of the island by those wanting to cash in on the new trend on our small, environmentally-at-risk island.
“I urge the planning department and other departments responsible to begin to make known the fact that you are moving to create bylaws with some teeth to deter further attacks on the island’s infrastructure and aquifers, et cetera. This is an urgent request for action before others experience what has happened in our part of the island with a so-called glamping ground.”
Electoral Area A director and board chair Patrick Brabazon asked staff for advice on how the regional district can overcome problems mentioned in the letter.
“The issue that Mr. Sclater has raised has been going on ever since I became a director 20 years ago, almost,” said Brabazon. “It has been exacerbated by the tourism community in the qRD, which continues to advertise that Savary is a delightful place to visit, and by all means, go there.
“There are no public facilities on Savary. There is no provision to enjoy the place and have any of the amenities that one would normally expect. It’s getting worse, and I think Mr. Sclater has now discovered that there is further advertising going on for glamping. I would like some assistance from staff as to what we can do, if anything, to get the word out that Savary should not be pushed as a destination to go visit, not even as a day trip.”
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said Sclater made some requests in his correspondence, such as requesting tree-cutting permits. Gisborne said his understanding is that if the area is not riparian or an identified natural hazard area, then regional districts and electoral areas don’t have the legislative authority to implement or enforce such a requirement. He asked if that was the correct understanding.
Manager of planning services Laura Roddan said her understanding is that if the regional district wanted, it could work with the community to develop a tree-cutting bylaw if it is of interest to Savary Island.
The planning committee made a motion that the correspondence from Sclater dated March 9, 2022, regarding land use, be received, and that the committee recommend the board seek advice from staff on how to address increasing tourism concerns on Savary due to its lack of facilities.
