In the map below the gray-coloured private land areas are NOT protected since government has no policy or authority to regulate how private land is managed.
During public review of the Draft VQO there were requests for this “misrepresentation” to be corrected; however, the Ministry’s final maps (still) show private waterfront coloured with “protection”—which makes government’s “protected-area” appear much larger than in reality. Private land protections are only what the landowner chooses to implement.
The new VQO does offer additional visual protection for a number of areas, which is a welcome improvement. It’s noteworthy that both sides of Hole-In-The-Wall are now better protected, and Bute Inlet up to Orford River has been elevated from Modification to Partial Retention.
However, there is one serious omission:The west side of Maurelle Island has had its protection downgraded! This Okisollo shoreline has been a matter of community concern and discussion for many years, and there have been deliberate community requests for the Maurelle shoreline to be upgraded to “Retention” due to its high tourism values and proximity to the Octopus Islands Marine Park. Except for the big trees that BCTS wants to log, there is no rationale for degrading this viewshed that has in recent years been elsewise prioritized through public and government investments of time and energy and millions of tax dollars.
Please note: there is discussion underway about how to respond—and information will be circulated when there is a plan for how to make our community response(s) most effective.
(2023) Visual Quality Objectives for the Discovery Islands
in Forest planning documents
Posted
In the map below the gray-coloured private land areas are NOT protected since government has no policy or authority to regulate how private land is managed.
During public review of the Draft VQO there were requests for this “misrepresentation” to be corrected; however, the Ministry’s final maps (still) show private waterfront coloured with “protection”—which makes government’s “protected-area” appear much larger than in reality. Private land protections are only what the landowner chooses to implement.
The new VQO does offer additional visual protection for a number of areas, which is a welcome improvement. It’s noteworthy that both sides of Hole-In-The-Wall are now better protected, and Bute Inlet up to Orford River has been elevated from Modification to Partial Retention.
However, there is one serious omission: The west side of Maurelle Island has had its protection downgraded! This Okisollo shoreline has been a matter of community concern and discussion for many years, and there have been deliberate community requests for the Maurelle shoreline to be upgraded to “Retention” due to its high tourism values and proximity to the Octopus Islands Marine Park. Except for the big trees that BCTS wants to log, there is no rationale for degrading this viewshed that has in recent years been elsewise prioritized through public and government investments of time and energy and millions of tax dollars.
Please note: there is discussion underway about how to respond—and information will be circulated when there is a plan for how to make our community response(s) most effective.