Clearing derelicts and live-aboards from the Selkirk Waterway is a work in progress that is continuing as planned, say City of Victoria officials.
“It’s a difficult process to predict the outcome because of all the variables and the potential [actions],” said city clerk Chris Coates.
Last month, the city served notice to owners of 11 of the 18 boats anchored near the Selkirk Trestle that it was seeking a court order to enforce its bylaws against long-term moorage.
The owners were given 21 days to respond. The city has continued the process of locating and serving the remaining owners. No owner has responded.
“We’re seeking a single injunction against all of the vessels that are anchored contrary to the regulations. … Once that’s done, we’ll be in court looking for injunctions for all of them,” said Coates, noting there’s the added complexity of boats coming and going.
“We had one leave the other day and another one come in. There is a transient piece to this as well.”
Coates said the city will likely be back in court in April.
Victoria has been working for years to address problem derelicts and illegally moored boats — some occupied — near the Selkirk Trestle on the Gorge waterway.
In summer 2014, councillors adopted a bylaw to rezone the waterway for recreational use only.
The bylaw specified the waterway was intended to be used primarily as a park and that live-aboards, float homes and overnight anchorage and moorage were not allowed. The city obtained a licence of occupation over the waterway from the province so the bylaw could be enforced.
Concerns about the boats include potential environmental impacts, particularly on sensitive eel-grass habitat. Residents living along the Gorge have also complained about noise, garbage and dumping of sewage by boat occupants.
Some have raised concerns that boats evicted from Victoria’s waterway are already causing problems in other jurisdictions. Capital Regional District staff have been directed to look at possible regional solutions, including a model bylaw to deal with problem vessels.
John Roe, founder of the Veins of Life Watershed Society, is trying to catalogue the number and location of derelict boats on capital region shorelines.
Roe is seeking public assistance in gathering information, including detailed locations and descriptions by April 1, in order to access any money earmarked for the issue in the federal budget.
Roe estimates as many as 50 derelicts have washed up on beaches in the region, including the Gulf Islands.
