Enforcement of the Pender Harbour Dock Management Plan (DMP) is on the Sunshine Coast RCMP’s radar, but uncertainty persists about what that will entail.
Sgt. Michael Hacker raised the dock plan at the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s July 19 policing committee, saying it will likely be “the most contentious issue” heading into fall, which is when he expects changes under the new plan will take effect.
“There may be a number of meetings happening before that, but I wouldn’t anticipate anything wrapping up until at least the fall and if not, the spring of 2019,” he said.
The DMP is jointly managed by shíshálh Nation and the Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRO). The final version was released April 4, with Pender Harbour divided into three zones that provide guidelines on where and whether new docks may be built, and if existing ones may remain or must be removed.
When committee member Greg Russell asked who would be responsible for the removal of unauthorized docks, Hacker responded, “That is the million-dollar question,” before adding, “I’ve talked to FLNRO and they don’t have a plan.”
Frank Mauro, Pender Harbour/Egmont director, said the docks that have “illegal tenure” would be the focus, which Hacker agreed with before adding, “I haven’t seen a plan yet to see what that looks like, and I’m probably not going to see a plan for what that looks like.”
In a statement to Coast Reporter, FLNRO said compliance and enforcement staff in the ministry are currently developing a plan for the removal of unauthorized docks. The province has developed a “phased in approach” to give tenure-holders “a number of years” to comply with the requirements set out in the DMP. Once the plan is finalized, property owners required to remove unauthorized docks will be contacted by FLNRO’s compliance and enforcement staff.
Tenure holders are currently being contacted and given instructions and guidance, the ministry said, adding that tenure-holders will be responsible for the cost of removing unauthorized docks and structures.
Under the DMP, unauthorized docks in Zone 1 or the “red zone” will have to be removed. That zone covers Gunboat Bay, Oyster Bay and the western portion of Francis Peninsula and is considered environmentally or culturally sensitive to shíshálh Nation.
– With files from Sean Eckford
