The mood inside Gambier Island's community hall on April 25 was much lighter than the last time residents met with officials about the closure of the Langdale float.
Instead of B.C. Ferries' representatives, islanders met with Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) members to try to resolve the closure issue.
"The reason was to get feedback from the public as to the options we had and any issues we hadn't focused on," said Brian Sagman, manager of transportation and facilities.
B.C. Ferries recently announced it would close public boat access to the float at Langdale on June 15. They cited injury on the float, dangerous driving around the ferries and Transport Canada MARSEC [marine security] upgrades as reasons to shut down public access.
Following a heated meeting with residents on March 14, the corporation amended the closure date to Oct. 15 to allow the SCRD time to come up with an alternative.
In Coast Reporter's April 3 edition, Deborah Marshall, spokesperson for BC Ferries, said they extended the date because, " what we wanted to do was make sure people had enough time to have another dock built or refurbished."
Last Saturday, roughly 60 people gathered for a presentation by Sagman and Cal Bowles, manager of transit and ports. Both suggested three options to the problem, but said they have had trouble getting a firm idea from B.C. Ferries on what the biggest concern about the float is.
"It's kind of like trying to pin Jell-O to the walls to find out what the issue is," Sagman said.
Option one, was to fight to keep the status quo or to build a float beside the existing float. Option two, was to build a float north of Langdale somewhere and third was to refurbish the Hopkins Landing float.
"There are other docks in close proximity to B.C. Ferries' vessels and do just fine," Sagman said, but acknowledged the difference is those floats are not owned by B.C. Ferries as is the case at Langdale. He said Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island and Gabriola Island have similar set ups.
The crowd was adamant they wanted option one and were not willing to consider options two and three. Potential sites for floats north of Langdale and Hopkins posed issues of difficult walking distances to transit and the ferry, lack of parking and imposing on private residences or children's camps.
Bowles, able-bodied and fortunate to have long legs, tested alternate options, taking measurements and timing as he walked. One route was "15 hard minutes and steep" and as to safety, "Any time you're on the side of the highway it's not good."
The public questioned the validity of B.C. Ferries safety claims. Sagman said it was better to focus on "common operating practices everywhere instead of focusing on an accident that hasn't happened."
Sagman said they can show "every small community that B.C. Ferries services has marine activity around it" and therefore the closure is not necessary. He said something like a "save-harmless agreement" might protect the corporation from lawsuits.
He suggested residents lobby the B.C. government and consult with Transport Canada about how important the rules are for local boating and determine if the closure is even legal.
Some islanders have formed the West Howe Sound Langdale Access Working Group (LAWG) to research the legality surrounding the dock and water access to it and are keeping others informed through email.
Lee Turnbull, SCRD director for West Howe Sound told the audience if the SCRD were to build and operate a float for them, "it would have to be a new service area and would be islanders, not mainlanders [who paid for it]." She said she would start looking for funding that could offset costs for the construction. B.C. Ferries has offered up to $25,000 toward the new float.
News about the float closure has drawn attention and support for the islanders from both MLA Nicholas Simons and MP John Weston who recently toured the site with residents.
Sagman and Bowles will write a report based on the three options and the public's feedback for the May 4, SCRD infrastructure meeting. Recommendations from that meeting will go to the May 14 board meeting and then staff will be given direction.
