October 2024 - A message from the qathet regional planning department

Thank you to everyone who came out to our open house and the Farmer’s Market on August 26 & 27! A ‘what we heard’ report from these events is now available. This report summarizes the feedback we received and outlines next steps. Please click on the link below to view the report.

Community Engagement Outcomes: August 2024 In-Person Engagement

Couldn’t make the in-person events? We will be conducting an online survey October 17-31 that explores the same questions and themes. We will also be hosting several virtual engagements in November (dates TBD). Stay tuned for more details! - Cherise Roberts, Planner

SILT Letter to the qathet Regional District requesting a Carrying Capacity Study, December 2023.

“Dear Chair and Directors: 

Thank you kindly for considering our correspondence of September 14 and taking action to pursue a water study for Savary Island as part of the Official Community Plan (OCP) Review. We believe this is an excellent start to the research that is needed to  determine the overall carrying capacity of Savary Island. 

As you are aware, previous OCP consultant Derek Pratt concluded that Savary  was reaching “critical development thresholds” nearly 30 years ago. Since that  time, there have been numerous building booms and lots developed such that the Island has gone from the 491 developed lots reported in 1997, to approximately 1,000 today (based on the number of propane customers). Since the OCP was completed in 2006, development on the Island has more than doubled. The sustainability of the Island now depends on land use regulation. 

SILT requests that the Regional  District conduct a carrying capacity assessment and factor the results of these  assessments into enforceable zoning and siting requirements.  

We have communicated with consultant William Trousdale william@ecoplan.ca about what a carrying capacity study for Savary might involve. Mr. Trousdale is  a globally recognized and award-winning planner, economist, decision analyst  and tourism expert and knows Savary well. He is also an Adjunct Professor at  UBC and SFU. He concurs that a water study is a good place to start and  outlines other aspects that should be included in a carrying capacity study.”

Read Mr. Trousdale’s suggestions and the rest of the letter by clicking here.

SILT Letter to the qathet Recional District Re. Savary OCP Review

This year will be an important one for the future of Savary Island. The Savary Island Official Community Plan (OCP) Review will begin later this year. The OCP was passed in 2006 after 11 long years of seasonal meetings and many drafts. The Savary OCP expresses the values and sentiments of the community about the future of Savary. However, the Savary OCP has no regulatory language apart from the amendment adding a Development Permit on the Heart of Savary protecting it as a Heritage Conservation area. Instead, it stands largely as a policy document with voluntary guidelines. As a result, the community values expressed in the OCP are for the most part ignored. At the same time, development on Savary has more than doubled. This alarming fact makes it clear that the sustainability of Savary is under threat.

SILT’s letter to the qathet Regional District expresses our concerns.  We understand that there will be OCP surveys in the coming months and an OCP Advisory Committee of the qathet Regional District will be established. We invite your participation and will keep you informed as things progress.

Please follow this link to read the letter.

SILT 2023 Newsletter

We are happy to release the 2023 SILT Newsletter! Please follow THIS LINK for the PDF version.

This year the qathet Regional District will begin the Official Community Plan review. On pages 4 & 5 of the Newsletter, Liz Webster provides a history of past Savary OCPs and details critical issues to be considered for a new OCP. The article includes links to environmental assessments by groundwater resources (PGL) and development thresholds (Golder), as well as to past OCP documents.

The Newsletter also includes articles about Phil’s Ecology Nature Walks and introducing new SILT board member Christopher Watson. Finally, the Newsletter closes with a piece on former board member Christopher Harvey, who sadly passed away in September 2022.

Thank you for reading!

SILT 2023 Summer Events

☀️ With summer just around the corner, we are excited to announce the SILT Summer Events we've got planned!

We're kicking things off with Nature Walks, lead by zoologist Phil Henderson (June 17 & 18). Next up are the Kids Forest and Beach activities with Danica Gleave (July 27 & August 1). We also have the 2-month iNat Challenge, which begins July 1!

We hope to see you at the Farmer's Market SILT Booth on Tuesdays and SILT AGM on August 7. Please see the poster below for more details.

#SILT25 iNat Challenge

The SILT 25 iNat Challenge has begun! We are excited to see what plants and critters participants find on Savary this year.

  • Challenge: to log observations of at least 25 species of flora/fauna on Savary Island

  • Duration: months of May to August

  • How: join the ‘SILT 25 Challenge’ iNaturalist project

  • Link to event: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/silt-25-challenge

  • Participant with the highest numbers of logged species and observations will WIN a 25th Commemorate SILT Birthday T-shirt

  • Questions? Email Maddie Beange at mwbeange@gmail.com

SILT 25 iNaturalist Challenge Begins Tomorrow!

The SILT 25 iNaturalist Challenge begins tomorrow! Here is what you need to know to play:
- The challenge: log at least 25 observations of flora/fauna
- Any habitat on the island is fair game – elusive intertidal, forest floor, Savary skies to name a few
- Dates: May-August
- Link to event: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/silt-25-challenge
- Participant the most species & logged observations will WIN a 25th Commemorate SILT Birthday T-shirt
- Updates will be posted on SILT social media and website
- Questions? Email Maddie Beange at mwbeange@gmail.com