Cable Bay Trail is a popular place for hiking, an area which will be preserves for future generations courtesy a new land deal. (submitted photo/Jackie Wasyluk)

By Alex Rawnsley

save cable bay

‘If you want to go far, go together:’ Harmac devotes 27 acres of land to buffer west side of Cable Bay trail

May 19, 2022 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — The campaign to save Cable Bay Trail has earned a major win.

An initially proposed 50 metre buffer of forested land west of the beloved Cable Bay Trail will instead be 100 metres, staving off development immediately next to the pathway and ensuring the future and health of the area for years to come.

Paul Sadler, CEO of Harmac Pacific, announced during a Nanaimo City Council meeting on Monday, May 16, his company heard loud and clear on the wishes of not only Council to address the issue now, but also those who have campaigned to preserve the land from development.

“It’s evidently clear to us at Harmac that Council wishes to define the Cable Bay buffer now, during the OCP process. To that end, NFPL will support the OCP policy of an average 100 metre buffer, which is estimated at 27 acres of property, will be allocated to the Cable Bay Trail adjacent to our lands.”

The land comes from a recent property acquisition by Nanaimo Forest Products Ltd. to the west of the trail.

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Sadler added they will work with the City during the official community plan (OCP) process in the area to ensure an average buffer of 100 metres is maintained while also “taking into account topography, environmentally sensitive areas and other considerations.”

Negotiations on things like community amenity contributions and park dedications from the City to Harmac will come at a later date. Sadler also hinted at the possibility the land may be transferred to the City as park land.

The region’s history played a big role in Sadler and the company’s decision.

“In the early 1990’s, it was Harmac’s management team…that offered the City of Nanaimo the Cable Bay Trail, in exchange for a road easement for White Rd.,” Sadler told councillors. “It was Harmac’s employees that built and organized the construction of the trail and the bridges that the public uses today.”

The expansive and popular Cable Bay Trail south of Nanaimo is further protected from development after a land devotion on the west side by Harmac Pacific. (submitted photo/Mick Bailey)

The initial 50 metre buffer was based on previous talks about development in the region but was deemed insufficient by those looking to keep the trail pristine.

Paul Chapman, executive director of the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust told NanaimoNewsNOW the 100 metre buffer wasn’t an arbitrary number.

“It’s really about protecting the values of that forest…from edge effects. When you develop up to the edge of a forest, you have effects that come in from that development and they have impacts beyond just where the development borders the forest.”

According to mapping, there are a significant number of trees in the area in question over 30 metres tall.

Chapman said a general rule of thumb is to apply a buffer three times the height of trees in order to prevent changes to the way light or wind comes in, which then can encourage noise and light pollution and invasive species.

“This is a great example of a really innovative, good corporate citizen stepping up to respond to not only community desires but also the ecological functions of the lands around Cable Bay and find a generous way to add those protections.”

While the addition of a 100 metre buffer zone on the western portion of the trail is a major win, work remains to protect the eastern side of the popular recreation site.

Chapman said much of the land is privately owned with the owner envisioning development.

“There are some large Garry oak meadows there, more older mature forests as well as incredible waterfront values there. There’s lots of opportunity to place more protections on that land, whether they’re parks or covenants that protect the natural values.”

Chapman concurred with coun. Erin Hemmens who said after Harmac’s announcement on Monday night, the end result doesn’t need to be economical vs environmental.

He added the dedication of land was a win-win for all involved.

“There’s an adage in hiking, if you want to go fast you go alone, if you want to go far, go together and I think that sort of works in this situation too. If you want something to last, it’s really about bringing together the various community interests and finding that common ground.”

Jackie Wasyluk is one of the admins of the Save Cable Bay Trail group on Facebook, which has drummed up support for the cause over recent years.

She said the group was thankful for Harmac’s contribution and Council’s support.

“We are very thankful that Harmac offered the 100 metre buffer to the City which will very likely finally make Cable Bay Trail a park on the West side. We were also thrilled to hear that Nanaimo Forest Products Limited will protect the environmentally sensitive areas of their land inside and outside of the buffer.”

The end of the trail opens up to the Salish Sea with sweeping waterfront views. (submitted photo/Mick Bailey)

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