Access is cut-off for now at the beach access stairs at the base of Seabold Rd. at the northern edge of Nanaimo city limits. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Restricted access

Storm-damaged north Nanaimo beach access stairs to be replaced

Dec 4, 2024 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — A closed valued public access point down a steep embankment is planned to be addressed shortly.

Charlotte Davis, the City of Nanaimo’s manager of parks operations, said the damaging November 19 storm sent at least one large trail over a section of beach access stairs at Seabold Rotary Park.

The yellow cedar staircase with 190 steps at the base of Seabold Rd. has been closed ever since.

“We are in touch with the contractor who constructed the stairs back in 2020 and we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to get a plan together and have them repaired early in 2025,” Davis told NanaimoNewsNOW.

While an on-site assessment has not yet been conducted, Davis suspects structural harm to the supportive pilings were not damaged and believes that only a singular section of stairs needs to be replaced.

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Restricted access

Storm-damaged north Nanaimo beach access stairs to be replaced

9h ago

A section of staircase was no match for a large tree which tumbled down during the Nov. 19 bomb cyclone weather event. (City of Nanaimo)

Rebuilt in 2020 at a cost of $240,000 following a nearly two-year closure, Davis doesn’t believe the replacement cost will be overly prohibitive.

She said tree risk assessment work will be done to determine if other trees near the stairs need to be removed for public safety.

“It may need that there are further removals required. It’s obviously a sensitive issue though because we know that trees and tree roots stabilize banks, and this is also something important.”

The amenity is clearly a valued feature to the local neighbourhood and broader community, Davis said.

“Beach access is very important, it’s something that our residents expect and really value in our community, so we’re keen to put that back in place,” Davis said.

Nobody was injured when a large tree came crashing down on the beach access stairs at Seabold Rotary Park. (City of Nanaimo)

Other park closures remain in effect

Several Nanaimo parks were closed following the Nov. 19, with some since re-opening, and others remain cordoned off for now.

Davis said Saxer Park, located near Seabold Rotary Park, as well as Lost Lake Park remain closed.

She said City staff need to complete safety assessments and remove trees and other debris from trails.

“As soon as we’ve got that work completed, we’ll have the spaces back open again.”

Lost Lake Park remains closed for safety reasons and for debris clean-up to be done. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes