UPDATE ON THE CRD PROPOSED PLAN FOR ISLAND VIEW BEACH
and CBC Radio interview February 17, 2016
The CRD Parks Committee met on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 when the new proposal for Island View Beach was on the agenda. Five members from Friends of Island View Beach had the opportunity to speak individually to the meeting and put our views across. After which we were able to sit and listen to the discussions. It was very interesting indeed. We found out who was for the current plan and who was not.
The good news is that our Central Saanich Major, Ryan Windsor is definitely against the plan. He spoke passionately and eloquently about his objections; about restricting dogs, restricting horses and of coralling visitors into a small space while most of the park becomes unavailable to us. He pointed out that people have been using this park quite happily for decades.
The public wants the park left alone, except for essential maintenance. That's what Mayor Windsor wants too. Director Mike Hicks, Director Lanny Seaton, and Director Ken Williams are also not happy with the plan in its present form. Ken Williams is pro horses, and Directors Seaton and Hicks are pro dogs.
Unfortunately, 3 others, Nils Jensen, Ben Isitt, and David Screech, spoke out quite forcefully for the plan as it stands. Ben Isitt was firm in saying he would like the plan to ahead right now as it stands. He was also vehemently anti dog. He made a couple of statements regarding dogs but actually the most ridiculous was that dogs go into the sensitive back areas of the beach and pick up things on their paws which they then transfer to other sensitive areas. Of course he has quite forgotten, that frequenting those areas are deer, cougars, racoons, rabbits, eagles and herons, who can equally pick up things on their paws, hooves or feet and transfer them elsewhere.
Nils Jensen, it appears, doesn't think the Parks Committee should be bothered with the fine detail of the parks plan. He thinks it should be left to the staff and the committee should just be looking at the broader picture. Unfortunately that previously prevailing attitude of the CRD concerning the staff has contributed to all these problems in the first place.
The Directors voted to put the plan forward for further consultation with the public, stakeholders and other interested parties. We are concerned that in doing this the CRD will have an opportunity to once again produce loaded surveys which produce the results they require and also tell the public in meetings only what they want the public to hear and not the whole unpalatable truth. For, even at the Parks Committee meeting, the member of staff giving the presentation about the proposal insisted that public access would not change. So far as we interpret the plan, we cannot see how this can be true.
CRD Parks Chair Mike Hicks and Bren Axon (a member of the Friends of Island View Beach steering committee) were interviewed by CBC radio on Wednesday afternoon and it was broadcast on Thursday morning.
Following is the recording of the interview with the CBC:
and CBC Radio interview February 17, 2016
The CRD Parks Committee met on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 when the new proposal for Island View Beach was on the agenda. Five members from Friends of Island View Beach had the opportunity to speak individually to the meeting and put our views across. After which we were able to sit and listen to the discussions. It was very interesting indeed. We found out who was for the current plan and who was not.
The good news is that our Central Saanich Major, Ryan Windsor is definitely against the plan. He spoke passionately and eloquently about his objections; about restricting dogs, restricting horses and of coralling visitors into a small space while most of the park becomes unavailable to us. He pointed out that people have been using this park quite happily for decades.
The public wants the park left alone, except for essential maintenance. That's what Mayor Windsor wants too. Director Mike Hicks, Director Lanny Seaton, and Director Ken Williams are also not happy with the plan in its present form. Ken Williams is pro horses, and Directors Seaton and Hicks are pro dogs.
Unfortunately, 3 others, Nils Jensen, Ben Isitt, and David Screech, spoke out quite forcefully for the plan as it stands. Ben Isitt was firm in saying he would like the plan to ahead right now as it stands. He was also vehemently anti dog. He made a couple of statements regarding dogs but actually the most ridiculous was that dogs go into the sensitive back areas of the beach and pick up things on their paws which they then transfer to other sensitive areas. Of course he has quite forgotten, that frequenting those areas are deer, cougars, racoons, rabbits, eagles and herons, who can equally pick up things on their paws, hooves or feet and transfer them elsewhere.
Nils Jensen, it appears, doesn't think the Parks Committee should be bothered with the fine detail of the parks plan. He thinks it should be left to the staff and the committee should just be looking at the broader picture. Unfortunately that previously prevailing attitude of the CRD concerning the staff has contributed to all these problems in the first place.
The Directors voted to put the plan forward for further consultation with the public, stakeholders and other interested parties. We are concerned that in doing this the CRD will have an opportunity to once again produce loaded surveys which produce the results they require and also tell the public in meetings only what they want the public to hear and not the whole unpalatable truth. For, even at the Parks Committee meeting, the member of staff giving the presentation about the proposal insisted that public access would not change. So far as we interpret the plan, we cannot see how this can be true.
CRD Parks Chair Mike Hicks and Bren Axon (a member of the Friends of Island View Beach steering committee) were interviewed by CBC radio on Wednesday afternoon and it was broadcast on Thursday morning.
Following is the recording of the interview with the CBC:
We need to remember though, this issue is not JUST about dogs, though dog owners would be severely impacted if the current proposal came into being. It is about curtailing the freedom of the public who actually pay for the upkeep of the park. It is about curtailing our freedom to walk with dogs, ride horses, ride bikes or generally just go for a walk. It is also about the CRD's plans for maintaining the park .
We need YOUR help! Please tell the Directors of the CRD how you feel about the current proposal. Email the CRD Board here
Tell them to LEAVE THE PARK ALONE!