Best of The Season Fellow Petitioners,
It's been two years since we begun and unfortunately it will be another 3 years before we see the results of our collective petitioning.
For that we are extremely appreciative of your engagement and contributions.
Here's a reply to our local CRD Director and long time Member of the Ferry Advisory Committee this morning.
All the Best in 2024!
Gary Holman The Ferry Advisory Committee always supported the deployment of the two hybrids at Vesuvius-Crofton. The FAC also supported increased sailings at Fulford-Swartz Bay, and deploying two ferries on that route when the hybrids arrive at Vesuvius in 2027, which BC Ferries will also be implementing.
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DG CourtneyAuthor
Gary, appreciate that but I believe you were working on the year 2035, when the Quinsam will be at the end of its service life. Things are looking up, BC Ferries understands that we are not prepared to be abandoned anymore on Route 6, after 50 years of having BC Ferries doing little to the Infrastructure and sending Ferries at the end of their Service Life to die on Route 6. I tried to convince you and the Commissioners on how a Re-Structured Ferry Advisory Committee could really help Advocating on behalf of Salt Spring Ferry Patrons but you won the day - The Status Quo. The push now is to see both the New Vesuvius Bay and Crofton Terminals for the Fall of 2026 - Spring 2027 come to fruition with the help of Mayor Rob Douglas of Municipality of North Cowichan. Darryl Martin when he was Chair of the SS Chamber of Commerce really helped kick this but the one's who really helped as well was the Chair's of the Chambers in Ladysmith. Chemainus and Duncan. Not to mention the Editor of the Chemainus Courier. The Fix for Fulford in our opinion is to give them their Village back by supplying another 50 to 90 Car Parks. Take the Ferry Traffic off the Roadway forever and allow the Village of Fulford to expand as per the OCP and to their Quaint Village Status as suggested by George and Peter, 15 years ago. The Trust won't do it, CRD won't do it, Province won't do it, BC Ferries won't as evidenced since the Skeena was commissioned ~25 years ago. So Ferry Patrons have to Advocate - Vociferously because of lack of Self Governance here on Island. You have to admit that its been a good news week, topped off with the talk at ASK Friday with Chair and Manager of NSSWD. I'm really pleased with the requests from the Fire Board being accommodated. Refreshing and hats' off to them. Best of the Season, David.
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Gary HolmanDG Courtney You’re re-inventing history. Your petitions at Vesuvius and Fulford have nothing to do what BC Ferries is actually implementing. The FAC did advocate for deploying the hybrids at Vesuvius on the same timeline as the terminal upgrades, and stated this in their submission to the BC Ferries Commissioner. Likewise, we advocated for increasing the sailing frequency for the Skeena at Fulford and a two ferry system on that route during the summer, which BCF is also implementing rather than taking your ‘fill in the harbour approach’, which will have significant environmental and First Nation impacts, nor will it support more frequent transit service.
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DG CourtneyAuthor
Director - Happy Christmas! Let's enjoy the Holidays and get back to it afterwards.
DG CourtneyAuthor
Director, not re-inventing history, trying to create it, with the help of 2256 Fellow Petitioners. So far on Route 6 over the last 24 months - 1. Not 1 but 2 Porta Potties - LOL. Not a big issue for you over the years but a huge issue for Patrons on Route 6. Especially for the School Children from Crofton 1st thing in the morning or after 1800 in the evening for everyone when the Crofton Seniors Facility is closed to prevent vandalism. This was One Giant Leap for Mankind (especially the ladies), when it comes to finding a facility early in the morning and after 1800 in the evening. 2. The painting of the Yellow "No Parking" Rectangles in front of the Residential Driveways (13) on Chaplin Rd leading down to the Crofton Toll Booth, to prevent altercations with Patrons and Residents when they became trapped from exiting their driveways. That was a 15 month Campaign, ask the VP of Strategy and Customer Engagement? I'm surprised that you and FAC didn't request this when the Rectangles where painted on Vesuvius Bay Rd a few years back as courtesy to our neighbours in Crofton that facilitate our crossing? The altercations between Residents and Patrons has evaporated, much to the delight of the Marshaller. We continue to Campaign for a better Solution for the Dangerous Goods Sailings on Monday and Thursday to prevent traffic chaos. That's conservatively been going on the books for decades. The camera view shooting up Chaplin Rd to the bend. The % of those checked in at Crofton on the APP, as well as courtesy when making way to the Terminal. That was scheduled for last June prior to the Summer Crush. The last two Summers have seen expensive repairs to the Trestles in both Vesuvius and Crofton because they are at the end of their service life. Having the New Terminals completed before necessary and costly repairs to creosote piles would have been pragmatic and I thought would be part of your agenda to protect the environment? We soldier on with Route 6, with the support of the Municipality of North Cowichan in politely seeking the New Terminals Constructed and the New Ferry Service Commissioned by the Fall of 2026 - Spring of 2027. Where would we be without the camera feeds graciously provided by the Salt Spring Exchange at Vesuvius and Crofton Terminal, sincerely appreciated. Hope that helps. Happy New Year!
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DG CourtneyAuthor
The Fix for Fulford: Director respectfully, the Fix for Fulford has been nothing but failed attempts for the last 2 1/2 Decades. "Likewise, we advocated for increasing the sailing frequency for the Skeena at Fulford and a two ferry system on that route during the summer, which BCF is also implementing rather than taking your ‘fill in the harbour approach’, which will have significant environmental and First Nation impacts, nor will it support more frequent transit service." You're suggesting that in 4 Summers from now by adding the Quinsam for July and August it will instantly cure the Parking Mayhem in Fulford during Peak Demand? Addressing the woefully in adequate parking containment area at Fulford Hrb since 1997, has never come to fruition. Approximately 550 Petitioners support the Fill Concept and perhaps more if Surveyed by the FAC but that's never been done before, right? You suggest that First Nations will take issue, respectfully why are you making assumptions on their behalf? The Vortex Development Permit was supported by First Nations. When it comes to a Public Safety concern and a pragmatic solution is adding fill to the fill that created the Fulford Parking Area to begin with 50 years ago such a concern. I appreciate you and some of your supporters can't appreciate the concept of giving back Fulford Village to the Residents of Fulford using the 2008 OCP. That's where the Minister of Public Safety has to step in, similar to the speed reduction to 30 Km through Ganges Village. It's a straight forward concept that we are trying to convey to Minister Fleming and First Nations. When it comes to Public Safety it seems your so called Environmental Stance is putting the lives of the Patrons of Route 4 at Risk. So far fortunately there hasn't been loss of life. The Concept using the OCP from 2008 and specifically the section dedicated to maintaining the Quaint Village of Fulford Harbour: 1. Up Zone the two parcels in question to Commercial Status. The one's where the 2 attempts to create car parking for a total of 160 vehicles have failed. Create Commercial Activity to what's currently there now - Clothing Shops, Cafes and perhaps a small Green Space displaying the early days of our First Nations activities on the Bay. 2. Add Fill to the existing Fill to create a sizeable parkng lot with a total of 100 to 160 Car Parks depending on BC Ferries direction - 1 or 2 Ferries in the future. 3. With adequate Parking Containment it's a short walk to the Village for food, beverage and goods, supporting the local merchants. Have you ever seen a Patron parked beside St Pauls negotiate Fulford Hill to patronize the shops in Fulford Village? 4. For those who live South of Fulford in Reginald Hill area, they don't have to negotiate the Traffic Gauntlet risking life and limb in order to access their homes. 5. Public Safety is achieved and we have an alternate shopping area and the Quaint Village of Fulford Recreated, that the Residents can be proud of and catered for in the current OCP from 2008. This is one of the reasons we've politely suggested a refreshed and reinvigorated Ferry Advisory Committee to our LCC Commissioners. All the Best in 2024.