The Town of Qualicum Beach endorsed the Regional District of Nanaimo’s new funding formula for regional parks and trails service.
The RDN board, at its regular board meeting on Jan. 11, approved the Regional District of Nanaimo Regional Parks and Trails Service Area Amendment Bylaw No. 1231.08, 2021. Qualicum Beach council endorsed it during their Jan. 12 regular council meeting.
The amendment will see the town’s contribution to the regional parks and service go up to close to $2,000 this year. This is based on the combination (50-50) of converted assessment and population for regional parks. The total contribution the town will allocate this year is estimated be $238,383, up from $236,511.
Mayor Brian Wiese indicated it is a sizable contribution but he feels it is a good thing for the town.
“The discussion has come up in the RDN numerous times that it’s not really a benefit that people in Qualicum Beach benefit from but it is when we look at buying parks,” he said. “There’s different things around town that they’re considering. Hamilton Marsh might be one of them. I am not sure, but that’s a direct benefit to the people in town.”
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Coun. Teunis Westbroek agreed.
“They might not be right in town but it definitely has a benefit to our residents certainly for wildlife and the environment in general,” said Westbroek.
Based on the new format, Parksville will see their contributions go down this year, from $332,896 to $321,491. Area F’s (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood) allocation also decreased by $2,694, as well as Area G (French Creek, San Pareil, Little Qualicum, Englishman River) by $1,247, and Area H (Bowser, Qualicum Bay, Deep Bay) by $21.