The Regional District of Nanaimo operates approximately 15 kilometres of the Trans Canada Trail on Island Timberlands forest lands.
It has a non-exclusive licence to do so since it was first issued in 2004. It has been renewed several times and most recently expired in July.
Island Timberlands offered to renew the licence until 2020. The cost to renew the two-year licence will be $1,000 plus GST.
The RDN’s approximately 22-kilometre section of TCT is located within Electoral Area C. The trail runs south from the City of Nanaimo through Extension to the border with the Cowichan Valley Regional District, with a gap at the Nanaimo River. Most of the trail sits on Island Timberlands property; other landowners include the province and TimberWest.
The south end of the RDN’s TCT is being extended because the province plans to restrict vehicular passage through its nearby DL 6 and gravel pit property.
Currently, trail users park in the gravel pit before heading out on the TCT. In March 2017, the RDN received a $30,000 grant from B.C.’s Rural Dividends Program to help develop a parking area outside of the pit property along with access trail to and through the pit.
The new trail involves a stretch of road held by Island Timberlands under statutory right of way. The landowner involved supports use of the right of way for the trail and will conclude a land access agreement, subject to a separate staff report. Development of all new works will be completed by year-end 2018.— NEWS Staff