The District of Sechelt is doing what it can to remove derelict and sunken vessels in Porpoise Bay, according to staff.
Public works supervisor John Devison told councillors at the June 28 public works, parks and environment committee meeting that he’s applied for federal funding under the Oceans Protection Plan to dispose of derelict vessels in the area and the application has been well received.
“We were the first people to get in. I had direct contact with them about a month ago. They were happy to see our paperwork. It basically consists of a three-page report on each boat out there and pictures,” Devison said. “So we did that, they called and a direct quote is ‘we’re going to make Sechelt an example.’ That was a direct quote from them.”
Devison said representatives from the Oceans Protection Plan Vessels of Concern program will be in Sechelt in the next few weeks and he’ll have a meeting with them to get more clarity.
The federal funding for derelict vessel removal under the program ($5.6 million for the entire country over the next six years) hasn’t been released yet, Devison said, noting the sum is much too small to deal with all of the issues in Canadian waterways.
For example, he noted one recently sunk tug in Porpoise Bay is expected to cost $75,000 to bring back to the surface and properly dispose of.
Devison said there are currently about 28 derelict or abandoned vessels in Porpoise Bay, some at risk of sinking and some without any motors or the ability to sail.
He said he gets regular complaints about the vessels and he’s hopeful money will be released to deal with some or all of them this summer.
The District of Sechelt is also actively seeking other types of funding to deal with the derelicts.
“We’re not ignoring the problem. We’re doing the best we can and finding money wherever we can,” Devison said. “It’s not like we’re turning a blind eye to it.”
Speaking at the July 5 council meeting, following a meeting about the federal program with MP Pam Goldsmith-Jones and other local government officials, Coun. Alice Lutes said she’s worried there won’t be enough money.
“My fear is the first amount of money – $375,000 – that’s being released for all of Canada, probably won’t be enough to deal with the applications that come in… We need to really show the federal government how big an issue this really is or it’s not going to get dealt with,” Lutes said, adding that she hopes the Union of BC Municipalities will look for ways to “push the issue more to the forefront.”
– Christine Wood, with files from Sean Eckford
