By Spencer Sterritt

Demo day finally arrives for abandoned boat in Ladysmith harbour

Mar 22, 2018 | 5:17 PM

LADYSMITH — The first of hopefully many abandoned and derelict boats was finally taken out of Ladysmith’s harbour this week.

Crews demolished and removed a derelict boat abandoned at Slack Point on Tuesday, finally removing what Ladysmith mayor Aaron Stone called an “eyesore” on their harbour.

Stone said the boat, which was there for many local administrations and was set on fire several times, is a good visual example of a larger problem plaguing the harbour, likening it to being the only visible part of an iceberg.

“There’s more than a dozen boats at the bottom in this area that have to be removed,” he told NanaimoNewsNOW. The town is currently surveying the situation and will draft a plan to tackle not just the abandoned boats but also live-aboards at the marina.

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Removing the one ship and several smaller pleasure boats left in the water cost roghly $90,000, $70,000 which was paid for by the federal government.

The money was provided in a $1.3 funding announcement by federal transport minister Marc Garneau earlier in March.

Mayor Stone used a favourite term from Nanaim-Ladysmith MP Sheila Malcolmson and called the $70,000 a “drop in the bucket.”

“We’ve made it very clear in all of our conversations with the federal government that although we’re very appreciative of this investment, it’s just an initial small piece,” Stone said.

He said he was optimistic about Ladysmith’s chances for more funding around this time next year for boat removal.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit