Keats and Gambier island residents can breath easy knowing they will still have access to the float at B.C. Ferries' Langdale terminal while negotiations continue with the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).
B.C. Ferries announced the extension "until further notice" in a service notice on Friday, Jan. 29. B.C. Ferries was set to close access to the float on Jan. 31.
"The two parties are working together," said Deborah Marshall, B.C. Ferries director of media relations. "We extended it until further notice. When we get better time parameters we can update people. We felt it was important to let those folks know they are able to continue to use it beyond the previous deadline of Jan 31."
Brian Sagman, SCRD manager of transportation and facilities, has been negotiating with B.C. Ferries trying to find options that will allow island residents to continue accessing the facility but it seems the best option is building a new float at a new location somewhere close to the current one.
Before the issue can be fully resolved, the SCRD still needs to do a public consultation process, design a new dock, conduct an environmental review, get approval from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, get SCRD board approval and then finally ink a deal with B.C. Ferries and build the new dock.
"We've worked out a general timeline that we think we could complete the construction by the end of the year, if we keep moving forward," Sagman said.
