Keats and Gambier island residents will continue to have access to the Langdale float, at least until Nov. 30, while Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) staff make arrangements for a new float.
Rob Clarke, B.C. Ferries' executive vice president and chief financial officer, announced the change during a recent conference call with Brian Sagman, manager of transportation and facilities for the SCRD; John Weston, MP for West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky Country; and the Langdale Working Access Group.
"That will give us time to put together a detailed project plan and also to meet with [B.C. Ferries] to talk about some of the conditions they have in terms of how a new float would be operated and in terms of making sure they don't have any liability for that operation," Sagman said.
Previously, B.C. Ferries was set to close access to the float on Oct. 15.
Sagman said B.C. Ferries will be monitoring the SCRD's progress and will likely continue to extend the closure deadline as milestones are met on the way to constructing the new float.
The conference call came at the request of Weston.
"He essentially offered his support and anything he can do at the federal level in terms of getting agreements for funding," Sagman said.
SCRD staff have applied to the federal Community Adjustment Fund to pay for a portion of the new float, but must first conduct an environmental review and get architectural designs before the application can be processed.
Sagman said a request for proposals for the environmental study and design will be going out within the next three weeks. He hopes to award a contract by the end of November.
