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B.C. government makes last-minute bid for provincial park on Quadra Island

B.C.’s Environment Ministry swept in with a last-minute bid Thursday to try to purchase waterfront land on Quadra Island for a new provincial park.
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Proposed provincial park for Quadra Island.

B.C.’s Environment Ministry swept in with a last-minute bid Thursday to try to purchase waterfront land on Quadra Island for a new provincial park.

The move left Quadra residents and politicians pleasantly surprised, after years of negotiations and fundraising appeared stalled earlier this week.

“The province did provide a bid to the seller by the deadline of 3 p.m.,” the ministry said in a statement. “As this is a sealed bid process, it would be inappropriate to disclose any details at this time.”

“It’s such great news,” said Susan Western, of the Quadra Island Conservancy and Stewardship Society. “It’s not saying it’s a done deal, because it’s just a bid, but it’s wonderful news.”

The 395 hectares of waterfront land would link Quadra Island’s existing Octopus Islands and Small Inlet provincial parks.

The site is being sold by Portland, Ore.-based forest company Merrill & Ring. The province had a tentative deal with the company in 2012 for $6.15 million in cash and land transfers, but it fell apart after a series of missed deadlines. That led to a new proposal from the province Thursday.

“I was pleased they were able to come through with it,” said Norm Schaaf, vice-president of Merrill & Ring’s Timberland branch.

“Would I say surprised? No, because we’ve had continuing conversations. They’ve had a more difficult set of challenges than a private bidder might have.”

Merrill & Ring will choose the successful bid over the next month.

The provincial government won’t be given special consideration, Schaaf said. The intention is to sell the land as either timberland or park, he said. “Any [bidders] we’ve spoken with haven’t indicated development of any kind,” Schaaf said.

Environment Minister Mary Polak said earlier this week that her government was about $2 million short of what was needed.

Quadra Island’s 3,000 residents collected $200,000 in a recent fundraising campaign, the regional government contributed another $100,000 and the B.C. Marine Parks Forever Society added $200,000.

North Island NDP MLA Claire Trevena said Environment Ministry staff deserve praise.

“It really validates the hard work of the acquisition team of the Ministry of Environment. … They’ve been really diligent on this, as well as the work of the community, since 1996.”

Merrill & Ring should consider the value of selling the land for park use, even if the government doesn’t have the highest bid, said Jim Abram, Quadra Island’s regional director, who has spent years lobbying for the park purchase.

“I hope they accept it,” he said. “They should consider this bid very seriously for the public good.”

Sierra Club B.C., which helped promote local fundraising, called it “a crowning moment of 16 years of work.”

rshaw@timescolonist.com