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B.C. Ferries opposes Gabriola Island water taxi

B.C. Ferries is opposing the idea of a water taxi between Gabriola Island and Nanaimo, claiming it would interfere with ferry service.
Gabriola Island ferry.
Gabriola Island ferry.

B.C. Ferries is opposing the idea of a water taxi between Gabriola Island and Nanaimo, claiming it would interfere with ferry service.

The Gabriola Chamber of Commerce recently asked the Regional District of Nanaimo to change the usage conditions of Gabriola's Descanso Bay Wharf — currently zoned for emergency use only — in order to give water taxi services the option to start service between the island and Nanaimo.

The chamber cited recent cuts to B.C. Ferries service, pitching the idea as a way to increase tourism dollars and convenience for travellers.

Revising the wharf's usage conditions received unanimous approval from seven business organizations in Gabriola and Nanaimo, but B.C. Ferries spokesman Darin Guenette told the Regional District of Nanaimo that B.C. Ferries "cannot support the idea."

"Our vessel crews took a hard look for any potential conflicts or issues," he said. "And we just don't have a comfort level for something like this making sense so close to the ferries."

Guenette told the RDN that logs, debris and wash could be pushed into a water taxi by the ferry, and that a smaller vessel would likely not be able to handle rough conditions on the water. He also said that parking at Descanso is already limited and putting another service there could increase pressure on roadways.

Howard Houle, the RDN's director for Gabriola Island, also has a number of concerns.

"When the taxpayer voted for the bylaw to create the emergency services dock, it was for emergency services only," he said.

"Also, my understanding, after talking to staff, is that at least $25,000 would be needed to rebuild the wharf to allow for commercial use."

He said the idea could be a good one, but that it's simply a bad location, and floated Green Wharf as an alternative.

Gabriola chamber president Ken Gurr was not available for comment Monday, but recently wrote a letter to the RDN asking for a written response to the chamber's proposal.

He wrote that the Green Wharf idea is "obviously impractical" and that an estimate he received to widen the Descanso Bay Wharf for commercial use was under $5,000 — $20,000 less than what RDN staff quoted.

Gurr added that the chamber's intent was not to create competition for B.C. Ferries, but to be a "good neighbour" and support tourism."Frankly, our marine transportation contacts have stressed there is little motivation for them to invest time and effort approaching the RDN for such a small venture with low profit potential," his letter states.