The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is going ahead with plans to construct a bicycle path on the west side of Pratt Road in Elphinstone, but will work with other agencies to eradicate knotweed from the site before building a path on the east side.
The SCRD board approved the plan on June 13, calling for staff to work with the Ministry of Trans-portation and Infrastructure (MOTI) and the Invasive Species Council of B.C. to eradicate knotweed completely on Pratt Road.
The 1.6-km bike path on the west side, between Chaster Road and Gibsons Way, will be paid for with an estimated $400,000 in gas tax funding and undertaken in conjunction with water line replacement.
Elphinstone director Lorne Lewis rejected a suggestion from staff to move the contaminated soil from the east side of the road.
"I think it has to be eradicated where it is and that's the best course for the environment," he said.
Gibsons alternate director Coun. Lee Ann Johnson said she was uncomfortable with the plan to build only on the west side.
"There's some concern about putting a downhill bike lane on a major thoroughfare without putting one on the uphill side," Johnson said.
"I think there are far more people in Elphinstone who despise Japanese knotweed than want to see a bike lane on the east side of the road," Lewis responded.
The board will consider approving the second phase of the project after inspections show that all knotweed has been eradicated.
Illegal beach parking
SCRD staff will investigate the viability of placing large boulders on parts of Ocean Park Esplanade to prevent vehicles from accessing the beach.
The problem, said Lewis, "is becoming an issue to people who know the value of forage fish. It is an area identified as important to this species of fish."
Staff will work with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and MOTI to develop a plan and proceed if the project is covered within the existing budget.
Burial section OK'd
The community services committee gave the green light to the request to designate a section of Seaview Cemetery for Jewish burial.
The decision means the expansion of cemetery plots will proceed sooner than planned, but the cost for clearing the site will be borne by members of the Jewish community who requested a separate section.
An area on the west side of the cemetery was identified for the new section. The cost to clear the entire site is estimated at $20,000, and developing the segregated area itself will cost between $5,000 and $7,000, staff said.
A formal agreement will be presented to the board at a future meeting.
Trail expansion
Directors approved a plan to build nine kilometres of new cross-country ski trails at Dakota Ridge in 2013 and to increase the width from five to seven metres to make the trails easier to groom.
The project comes with a one-time construction cost of $20,000 and recurring operational cost of $10,000.
The work will be covered by $20,000 of $26,000 received in amenities funding from Regional Power's Bear Creek hydro project.
