The Bowenian

Key Findings

Main findings include: Five large private dock applications at Cape Roger Curtis with aggregate length of 280 metres of wharves and gangways, and 298 metres of floating breakwaters that threaten public access to Pebble Beach and the lighthouse; applications do not comply with Bowen's Land Use Bylaw requiring moorage not limit beach use or impact eelgrass, kelp, clam or mussel beds; inadequate environmental monitoring during Cape Roger Curtis subdivision development with Monitor reports lacking wildlife management assessments and missing required raptor/heron nest surveys before Phase 2 clearing; Bowen Island Municipality received $183,400 to oversee development but has not adequately fulfilled regulatory responsibilities; November 2011 municipal election reversed long-standing practice of electing environmentalist majority to council, with 73% voter turnout and strong correlation between anti-park mayoral votes (1055) and referendum no votes (1089); proposal to bring Natural Areas Protection Tax Exemption Program (NAPTEP) to Bowen Island for property tax reduction in exchange for conservation covenants; growing opposition to proposed 200-acre Burnco gravel mine at McNab Creek producing up to 1.6 million tonnes aggregate per year that threatens Howe Sound ecological recovery including herring, salmon, dolphins and whales.