Doing it for dad
Oak Bay High soccer team reaches toward its goal Page A5
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OAK BAYNEWS Friday, May 30, 2014
www.vicnews.com
Oak Bay’s future is in your hands
G
Arnold Lim/News staff
Royal Victoria Yacht Club general manager Simon Gatrell at the marina docks that will be replaced entirely over the summer.
The model of a modern marina Arnold Lim News staff
The Royal Victoria Yacht Club’s dock is starting to show its age. The Styrofoam helping buoy the aging wood is fading, once-strong planks are losing their rigidity and the outdated design is losing its lustre. The RVYC’s dock’s days are numbered. “It has been here for over 30 years, so it is time for a change,” said RVYC general manager Simon Gatrell. “It’s very important. The docks are old and starting to fall apart.” He said the yacht club, at the location since 1911, is in the permitting stage with the municipality of Oak Bay and growing safety concerns for the aging dock will be greatly reduced with the new wood,
reconfigured docks, oriented a fire-suppression system, so the wind puts less pressure environmentally safer materials on both the docks and boats, and a wider slip, or mooring area, alongside newer for newer boats that electrical outlets for are built wider than “It’s a positive the approximately the boats of old. 270 boats moored “It’s going to be thing for our at any given state of the art, membership and the there time. a really modern The dock is instructor sailing marina,” Gatrell already undergoing said. “This will be program; it will construction that built to last 50 to 60 be good for the continues in phases years hopefully. … starting in June and It’s a positive thing environment as well. ” scheduled to be for our membership - Simon Gatrell complete at the end and the instructor of September, a time sailing program; it line chosen with the blessing of will be good for the environment Fisheries and Oceans Canada. as well – it’s going to be good for “We talked with them to make everyone.” sure we didn’t disturb the seabed The $4.5-million bill will be during the time of reproduction,” footed by the club and their said RVYC commodore John approximately 1,300 members. Green. “They gave (us) the green Other changes include slightly
Victoria’s Largest
Pearl Event
light and tell us the best months that are least invasive. That’s why they are doing it in June July and August with their blessing.” Despite the many expanded features, the footprint of the marina will not be expanded and remnants of the old dock are expected to be dismantled and recycled or given away. The new dock will be prebuilt in Cowichan Bay and barged into the marina by Jor-Nic Marine Construction. Green said it would be one of, if not the most modern dock in Greater Victoria when it’s fully outfitted at the end of summer. “Our (current) docks are tired and worn out, this is going to be much more visually appealing,” he said, “It is not an expansion; it’s a renewal.” alim@vicnews.com
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et in your last chance to peruse and provide feedback on the Oak Bay revised official community plan tomorrow. It’s the last scheduled public consultation event for residents to review the current draft OCP. The 2014 OCP builds on the foundation of the 1997 OCP and will serve as a key planning tool setting out municipal policies to help guide and adapt to evolving community needs over the longterm. Following the open house, a revised draft will be presented to council in early June and will be posted on the municipal website over the summer for residents to review. It is expected that a public hearing will be scheduled in September. “OCP renewal is a priority for this council,” said Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen. “The renewal of Oak Bay’s OCP provides a communitywide opportunity for Oak Bay residents to be meaningfully involved in managing growth in a realistic way and shaping our community’s future.” Visit oakbay.ca for up-toFINE CUSTOM JEWELLERS date information and to see a copy of the draft 2014 OCP. The final open house on the OCP is on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee St. in the Sportsview Lounge.
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