“We want to ensure directors are aware of the ongoing degradation to your park… we would love to have the SCRD [Sunshine Coast Regional District] initiate a project to mitigate and manage the drainage," Daniel Rogers, president of the Keats Island Conservation Society, told SCRD rural area directors. He and Eastbourne Community Association president, Bob Rabnett, delivered a delegation regarding West Beach Park at the Dec.19 SCRD electoral services committee meeting.
Tax dollars in, but few maintenance dollars out
The two shared dramatic visuals of how drainage from an upslope property and ocean storm surges were eroding what they characterized as the “most popular” of the five parks the SCRD owns but, in their view, does not actively maintain on the island. In their delegation slides, the presenters pointed out that Keats Islanders have been paying approximately $40,000 per year into the SCRD parks function for many years and have received very little investment into island parks.
“None (of the parks) have any amenities," Rabmett outlined, he stated that three of those are beach parks that have access point trails and stairs that were constructed by volunteers. West Beach (on the southwest side of Keats), which the delegation said attracts between 100 and 150 visitors on a summer weekend or for the annual Polar Bear swim, is one of those sites.
Along with encouraging committee members to allocate resources to address West Beach's drainage issues in 2025, he noted that representatives of both presenting groups had previously raised the issue to regional district staff.
"Damage to the [West Beach] trails creates safety hazards for people trying to access the beach… directors need to know and will hopefully make this a priority,” he stated.
West Howe Sound director Kate Stamford thanked the presenters and emphasized that she had requested a project to help the situation be considered at a number of board and committee meetings, including at 2025 Round 1 budget debate in November. There was general agreement at the meeting to have discussions with staff about bringing that issue up for consideration at Round 2 of the 2025 budget, slated to start Jan. 13.
“It is challenging as it [the park, the adjoining road right of way and the foreshore] is multi-jurisdictional…but [the erosion] is an example of what climate change is doing up and down the Coast,” said Stamford.
