Squamish will soon have an official strategy for its marine area, including a list of wants and needs that include a small boat launch and dredging in the Mamquam Blind Channel.
District staff presented a draft of the Squamish Marine Strategy document at the Community Development Standing Committee.
The document is urgently needed, according to councillors.
“We’re about 10 years too late for this plan,” said Coun. Ted Prior, who urged staff to work as quickly as possible on key items.
The document presented on Tuesday is a draft and has not been finalized or formally adopted by council.
“We are continuing to receive input [from] some stakeholders, so that incoming feedback we’re using to tweak the strategy so we can then bring it forward for formal endorsement and start to activate the immediate action pieces,” said planner Sarah McJannet.
The document identifies 11 immediate actions to be taken over the next two years.
Two goals are investigating an “expanded harbour authority” and dredging for the Mamquam Blind Channel. The need for short-term visitor moorage, a transportation plan and marina infrastructure are also identified as urgent goals.
To protect coastal ecosystems, the draft suggests setting specific goals and zoning conservation areas, and emphasis on ‘Green Marine’ programs. Exploring the realignment of the Squamish Spit, a popular launching point for local windsports, is also mentioned as a two-year goal.
Coun. Doug Race noted that as development ramps up on the waterfront, more and more people will be looking for access, and the District has limited land resources.
“The land ownership and the water use are not necessarily connected,” said Race. “It’s important, right from the getgo and this is going on as you all know, we start to consider the things that we need that may need to be located on the land to serve and accommodate us on the water. Parking is one example of that.”
“All kinds of people using the water and are going to need access to it,” he said.
The draft includes a long wishlist of needs and wants.
Among them are a long-term tenure for the Squamish Yacht Club, a pump-out dock for sewage, a public fuel dock, a float plane base, a search and rescue station, a small boat launch and appropriate parking for marine users.
Industry requests included the possibility of a small and large cruise ship dock, a gravel control system for the Stawamus River, facilities for the increased use of barges and storage for the commercial fishery.
Coun. Karen Elliott asked staff to provide some context to that list, to see what is most urgent and connected to the urgent action items.
McJannet said staff will take Tuesday’s feedback and work more on the document before returning to a regular council meeting in a number of weeks for finalization.
