CFB Esquimalt is aiming to meet with mountain bikers, dog-walkers and hikers who use its Nanaimo rifle range lands, but has no plans to budge from barring the public from the property.
“Our intent of those meetings is to educate,” Capt. Jenn Jackson said Wednesday. “We still have boundaries that we have to enforce and that hasn’t changed. … We are stepping up enforcement and we are moving forward.”
The base is in the process of lining up meetings next week with representatives of recreational groups, Nanaimo and Lantzville council members, and Nanaimo parks and recreation staff, Jackson said.
The meetings follow reminders last month that the 351-hectare site is closed to the public for fear someone could get hurt during live-firing training — a federal live-fire range is in the southeast corner of the property, with the remainder of the site serving as a buffer zone. Enforcement of violations could include requests for ID or a fine.
It’s not the first time the Department of National Defence has reminded citizens to keep out. In 2012, Jackson said, 27 warnings were issued to users of the lands.
Set up as a rifle range close to a century ago, the property has multiple trails and has become a popular destination for mountain bikers, hikers, runners and dog walkers.
Those who use the land are lobbying for continued access to the property. Runner Jake Thornburn spoke to Nanaimo council this week, saying as a young cadet, he learned to shoot a rifle on the range. Now he runs once a week with a group that sometimes goes onto the site. “We have never run into any problems with the use of this land.”
Nanaimo council voted in favour of a motion urging DND to meet with recreational users in hopes of striking a land-use agreement.
“My intent is to seek a specific outcome — a use agreement — but more so the motion advocates for a process which has been missed and which provides an opportunity for members of our community to voice their concerns and advocate for their continued use of land, which they have stewarded for years,” said Coun. Erin Hemmens, who initiated the motion.
While use of the land comes under federal jurisdiction, it’s the responsibility of municipal government to encourage dialogue in matters that affect Nanaimo residents, Hemmens said.
Coun. Ben Geselbracht backed the motion, saying the lands are used by an “incredible” number of Nanaimo residents for recreation. “It’s a very beautiful area. I would say it is a jewel.” The site is surrounded by four parks.
Geselbracht noted that since the range was established, the surrounding population has grown considerably. “There’s new considerations to be taken into account.”
Coun. Sheryl Armstrong, who opposed the motion along with councillors Ian Thorpe and Jim Turley, said having the city request a meeting for private groups would set a bad precedent.
She noted that Nanaimo took legal action last year when a large tent city was established on municipal land.
“We went to court to have people removed from our private properties and I believe that we should be not involving ourselves in [the rifle-range issue].”
The District of Lantzville, to the north, also weighed in, voting three to two in favour of asking DND to reconsider closing the site to the public. “It seems there might be somewhere else that they could put their rifle range, although I’m not sure,” Coun. Karen Proctor said. “I just wish that they would meet with some people and talk about it.”
