Egmont area residents met with Land and Water B.C. (LWBC) last week to discuss options for the formation of a park on Egmont Point.
Peter Walters of LWBC met with around two dozen Egmont residents at the Egmont Community Club Hall on Aug. 21. Participants were there to look at ways to preserve Egmont Point.
Walters told residents there were a number of ways the area could be designated parkland: possibly a provincial park, a regional district park or a Nature Trust.
The general consensus of the residents was that a park was desirable, especially the land area behind lot owners along the water across from Egmont. A number of different ideas were discussed as to what type of park would be formed.
Resident Glenn Krahulic suggested that Egmont Point could become one of a string of marine parks used by the many kayakers who come to Jervis and Sechelt inlets.
Another resident, Geoff Craig, also wanted to see the park have a use area.
Anita Horovenko of the Friends of Egmont said the Egmont area was clearly going to be developed more in the future and that Egmont Point should be preserved.
"This piece of land is at the mouth of the inlets that lead to Jervis and Sechelt inlets and Hotham Sound," Horovenko said. "We need to think about this down the road for future generations."
The area has already been designated as a Land Act reserve for the use and recreation and enjoyment of the public (UREP) and a Park and Assembly Zone (PA1) by the SCRD. With the support of the SCRD, the property could also be designated a Free Crown Land grant through the Ministry of Forestry or LWBC.
SCRD director John Rees said the SCRD doesn't have the money to buy the property from LWBC, but he would support trying to obtain the land as a park. He feels that the best way would be to designate Egmont Point as a marine park.
"The property is Crown Land and is already owned by the people," said Rees. "It seems logical that it could be a simple internal transfer from one agency to another."
Walters added the Sechelt Indian Band would have to be consulted to find out if disposition of the land would affect them. Support from the band would help in formation of a park.
Pacific Northwoods Resources still has an option to apply to purchase some of the property. The company, which has been logging its private land nearby, had applied last spring to purchase Egmont Point. That application was denied because of public concern, the viewscape consideration, the higher ratio of timber to land value and the parcel's designation as a park and assembly zone.
PNR has not responded since receiving a letter from LWBC concerning the application for purchase of Egmont Point.
Walters said he hoped to meet with PNR in September and give the company a timeline to respond.
"You can't put a community through so much uncertainty for too long a time," said Walters.
