Save Cable Bay Trail Area
The forest 🌲🌿 surrounding this area is full of wildlife🦌🦉🦅🐸🐿. Garry Oak meadows are throughout and are home to rare and endangered plants 🌰🌼🌺. Their beauty comes to life every spring.
We need to protect these ecosystems and make this entire area a park for all to enjoy. The City of Nanaimo is listening to concerned trail users and the 21,000 people who have signed a Petition requesting this area become a park.
In 2022 the OCP was updated and these lands were removed from the Urban Containment Boundary! This was a major win as it means The City will not service these lands. The subdivision application suggests wells and septic though there are no wells registered at this time.
It’s time to finally make this area a park for all to enjoy! Follow along and let mayor.council@nanaimo.ca that it’s time to turn this beloved trail into a park!
Updates
April 2024 – Read the 20+ page list of investors for 1270 Phoenix Way here.
February 2024 – The 100-meter buffer celebration is over and no longer accurate. New applications to the City show a 50-meter buffer with a wider buffer where development was never feasible, e.g. cliffs, ESAs, etc.
The insertion of the words ‘average 100-meter buffer’ appears to be a significant and misleading representation of intentions.
May 2022 – “‘If you want to go far, go together:’ An initially proposed 50 metre buffer of forested land west of the beloved Cable Bay Trail will instead be 100 metres, staving off development…” Read article from Nanaimo News Now.
March 2022 – Nanaimo Forest Products Ltd. acquires land west of trail.
Rich & Diverse Ecosystem
The lands surrounding the Cable Bay Trail represent a diversity of ecosystems from wildflower meadows to old growth forests to shoreline flora and fauna. These lands are at risk of development that will damage the natural environment and impact trail users.
Winter 2023 Update: After reports of unnecessary (and possibly unintended) vehicle destruction to the Garry Oak Meadows within the east lands, we implore the property owners to exercise positive stewardship of these fragile and rare ecosystems wherever and whenever possible.
Joan Point Park
Joan Point Park is a City of Nanaimo park that is only accessible through private lands. Cable Bay Trail ends at the bridge. The trail from the bridge to Joan Point is owned by Mosaic. The other route to Joan Point also on private land is via the path/road off the main trail after the third gate (aka east side lands). There are signs stating, ‘Now Entering Joan Point Park’ on both sections of the private land.
The City pulled the east side lands out of the Urban Containment Boundary in June of 2022. This was seen by trail enthusiasts as a huge win for the Cable Bay Area as that meant the City would not be providing services to this area effectively making the lands undevelopable.
We continue to advocate to City to officially purchase the east side lands.
The Lands Surrounding Cable Bay are at Risk of Development!
The development plans for this area do not fit with the City of Nanaimo’s Doughnut Economic Model which emphasizes the protection of diverse natural landscapes.
The hike to Cable Bay and Joan Point Park is one of the most popular and scenic hikes in the Nanaimo area. We need to ensure that these lands are protected as an intact ecosystem for the benefit of wildlife, plant life, and for people who want to enjoy fresh air, exercise, and serenity.
Please help us reach our goal of expanding the boundaries of the Cable Bay Trail to encompass the surrounding lands and to secure access to Joan Point Park.
- Keep the conversation going by joining our Facebook group for the latest news and photos: facebook.com/groups/savecablebaytrailarea.
- Sign the petition here.
Be Part of the solution
Sign the petition. Cable Bay is not the space for an industrial wasteland, drought-encouraging clear-cuts, or McMansions.
It is: flora, fauna, fire-resistant old growth, & diverse ecosystems.
Cable Bay is a natural greenspace heaven worth protecting for today and tomorrow’s generations.
Marine Life
The hike is not complete without checking out the areas diverse marine life. In the spring, watch for orcas travelling through the narrows.
Centurians
The 400+ acres includes both very mature forests as well as verified old growth forests.
Upcoming Events
Everest Camp Trek
Fuerat aestu carentem habentia spectent tonitrua mutastis locavit liberioris inistra possedit.
Walking Holidays
Fuerat aestu carentem habentia spectent tonitrua mutastis locavit liberioris inistra possedit.