When Jordan Sturdy, the new MLA for the West Vancouver - Sea to Sky region, visited Bowen Island on Friday, July 12, he was treated to a tour of one of the local beaches. But the intent of taking Sturdy to Mannion Bay (often called Deep Bay) was not to show him a site of attraction but rather point out a situation local residents have lobbied to address. Representing the Friends of Mannion Bay were Mike Lightbody and Derek Trethewey and, in a subsequent presentation to council, they spoke about live-aboards and derelict vessels in the bay.
Lightbody pointed out that Sandy Beach at Mannion Bay is one of the most accessible and stroller-friendly beaches on Bowen Island but that water testing has shown a high coliform count. "This has been a growing issue over the last 20 and increasingly over the last 10 years, " Lightbody said. "The challenge we face has to do with boats, live aboards, derelict vessels and a number of floats."
The issue has been brought to the attention of the municipality numerous times as living aboard a boat in the area is not permitted in the Land Use Bylaw, according to a briefing report compiled by councillor Alison Morse. The report also says that there are federal regulations for mooring buoys and the responsibility to enforce them falls to the coast guard.
Morse also stated that foreshore leases for floats are under provincial jurisdiction. "The federal and provincial governments must work together to solve the cross jurisdictional issues and help the affected communities," the briefing says, adding that one of the vessels, an abandoned wooden cabin cruiser was recently removed at a cost to the municipality of $5,000. "[Dealing with vessels that are abandoned in the water or ashore] is a long process and a costly one. This is not a cost the local community should have to incur," the report says.
"We need to take the issue to a level that creates an action plan," Lightbody said. "Several vessels have sunk, impacting the environment and there are water issues which have been proven by testing. Last week, a young child got sick and we are pretty sure that relates to the high coliform count."
Lightbody says that, in addition to the water quality issue, neighours have been disturbed by individuals who "set up chairs, leave empties, make fires, yelling and screaming late into the night."
Lightbody says that when the Friends of Mannion Bay have brought their concerns to the owners of the vessels, the responses have varied. "Of the people who come here, when they realize they are not welcome, some move on but others say, 'I'm not leaving, I don't have to,'" he said.
Lightbody said that the last beach cleanup was a neighbourhood effort. "Within four hours, we had the beach cleaned and we had machinery to deal with a derelict boat on the beach," he said, adding that the cleanup crew also noticed signs of substance abuse, such as needles found on the beach. Since then, the refuse has "crept back."
Lighbody said that the people who live on the boats don't pay taxes but have access to amenities in Snug Cove as well as an outhouse on Sandy Beach. Boats that have ended up on the beach are dangerous for kids and those that sink pose an environmental hazard due to septic, oil, fuel and other contaminants they carry on board, according to Lightbody.
"Not only do the derelict vessels become a navigation hazard, they are also unsightly," he said. "It's bad for businesses and bad for residents. In the past, we had people come up and anchor there to visit Snug Cove but they are not coming any more."
Derek Trethewey is the owner of the Bowen Island Lodge. He recalled one potential client who came to see whether the lodge was suitable for a corporate retreat. "He came and tied up his boat. But when he saw [the state of Mannion Bay], he left. I think we underestimate the negative impact this has. It affects our businesses and our jobs," Trethewey said. "We have very few places where it is safe to come and swim. Our community deserves better than that and so do the tourists."
Councillor Wolfgang Duntz said he's lived in Deep Bay for 33 years. "When we came to Bowen Island, it was a very popular destination for boaters until about 15 years ago. I know what it was and what it is and it is shameful," he said, adding that the only viable solution would be for the municipality to gain jurisdiction.
Municipal bylaw services officer Bonny Brokenshire said she doesn't believe that there is a "quick fix" and many environmental as well as socio-economic aspects have to be taken into account.
"This is a complex issue. It's a good start getting the foreshore lease but I believe the derelicts are only one part of the problem," she said, adding that it has to be a collaborate effort of all the stakeholders.
Lightbody recommended a number of potential solutions. "There used to be a log boom around the beach to display the fact that this is a swimming beach and not simply a landing area for boats," he said, explaining that the inconvenience of getting around the boom would potentially act as a deterrent.
Other suggestions included signage, charging a fee for over-night anchorage, for the municipality to acquire the foreshore lease to be able to enforce the bylaws or to add a levy to the sale of old boats that could create a coffer for dealing with boat disposal. Lightbody also suggested an increased level of coordination between the different levels of government.
MLA Jordan Sturdy said that he had been asking for input at the provincial level in preparation for the meeting and heard that "Bowen should apply for a foreshore lease and get on with it."
