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VICTORIA – Agreements between the Province, the Capital Regional District and the Land Conservancy of B.C. will expand Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park on Salt Spring Island and see the creation of a new regional park in Sooke, Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection Bill Barisoff, CRD chair Don Amos and TLC executive director Bill Turner announced today.
The Province will buy 151 hectares on Salt Spring from the CRD for $1.5 million for expansion of Burgoyne Bay. The CRD will use proceeds of the sale to buy 85 per cent of the 63-hectare Sooke Potholes property from TLC.
“This investment by the Province will protect some of the most sensitive habitat in the Gulf Islands, including areas that support the threatened Garry oak,” Barisoff said. “To be able to expand Burgoyne Bay less than a year after its creation is evidence that our strong economy is supporting government’s plan to expand and protect special habitats. It is also satisfying to see that our agreement with the CRD is allowing it to protect the Sooke Potholes.
Earlier this year, the Province and the CRD entered discussions in an effort to expand both provincial and regional parks throughout the area. Amos said the agreement with the Province paved the way for the CRD to purchase a large portion of the Sooke Potholes site from TLC.
“This land sale strengthens provincial and regional park holdings and provides certainty to the future of the Sooke Potholes,” Amos said. “We look forward to working with TLC to begin development of a park plan for this spectacular natural destination.”
Turner said park designation for the Sooke Potholes is the culmination of over a year of intensive campaigning by TLC and thousands of area residents.
“I am delighted that both the Province and the CRD have been able to respond in such a positive and proactive way to this initiative,” said Turner. “We have worked in partnership a number of times to protect special places in our province, and we are demonstrating that by working together we can accomplish great things.”
TLC acquired the Sooke Potholes property last year. Situated on the Sooke River, the property is best known for the naturally carved potholes in the riverbed. The site is a favourite with swimmers and hikers from throughout the Capital Regional District.
Created last spring as one of 37 new Class A provincial parks, Burgoyne Bay will now encompass more than 505 hectares. It is one of three provincial parks, (the other two are Mount Maxwell and Ruckle) and one ecological reserve (Mount Maxwell Ecological Reserve) on Salt Spring Island.
In addition to its Garry oaks, Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park also protects Douglas fir forests, open grasslands and a number of historical buildings and First Nation middens and gathering places. It provides a variety of day-use activities for residents of Salt Spring Island, the Capital Regional District and visitors.
In May 2004, the Province expanded B.C.’s provincial parks system by over 150,000 hectares by creating 37 new Class A parks, one new ecological reserve, and expanding 34 existing Class A parks and four ecological reserves.
Funding for this park expansion comes from the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection’s 2004-05 budget.
A map of the addition to Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park is available at http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/pac/docs/BurgoyneBayParkExp.pdf online.
For more information about B.C.’s provincial parks system, visit http://www.bcparks.ca online.
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Communications Director Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection 250 387-9973
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Executive Director The Land Conservancy of B.C. 250 479-8053
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Chair Capital Regional District 250 360-3126
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Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services. |
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