Bowen Island group offers Metro Vancouver $30M to prevent new campground
Posted September 24, 2023 11:39 am.
The Bowen Island Conservancy group has offered Metro Vancouver $30 million in an attempt to buy back a portion of land slated to become a campground.
Metro Vancouver announced plans last year to buy 97 hectares at Cape Roger Curtis on the island for $40 million, with the intention of turning it into a new park with 90 campsites, trails, and picnic areas.
Related: Camping coming to Bowen Island, Metro Vancouver to spend $40 million on new park
In an open letter to Ravi Chhina, deputy commissioner of operations for Metro Vancouver, the group says it is “extremely concerned that the development of the park, as currently proposed, will result in serious negative impacts to our Wild Coast Nature Refuge adjacent to the park, and conservancy values in the area generally.”
The group says it originally approached Metro Vancouver in May this year with an offer of $20 million “in return for measures to protect our Wild Coast Nature Refuge and generally enhance conservation in the area.” It says the region said the offer was “of interest” but did not move forward.
Now, the Conservancy says, it has increased the offer following “pledged” donations and this time wants to buy the land back.
“Given Metro’s apparent lack of interest in our May proposal, we have made efforts to raise funds for the purpose of purchasing the entire area,” the group said in the open letter. “We are now in a position to offer the sum of $30 million for the entire property, subject to the Conservancy obtaining formal confirmation of donations which have been pledged. We anticipate that these funds can be confirmed and our formal offer presented by November of this year.”
The group is asking Metro Vancouver to consider either one of the two proposals and says it will be prepared to discuss details.
With files from Raynaldo Suarez and Charlie Carey
