Editor’s note: Some activities that are of interest to Cortes listeners as well are: the fact the proposed SRD housing service is designed to be virtually cost neutral to the electorate and how Quadra ICAN is mapping that island’s aquifers and wetlands, as well as monitoring water levels in a number of wells.
Robyn Mawhinney has learned a lot since she was elected Regional Director almost 14 months ago. As we enter into yet another new year, she gave her reflections of 2023 and what is ahead for Area C in the coming months.
“I’m really pleased that there are new avenues for having community voices heard and included in decision making,” she began.
“Area C now has an Advisory Planning Commission, with nine members. They represent diverse geographies across Area C, from Read Island to Granite Bay and across Quadra Island, and demographics, and as well different business interests. I really appreciate that folks were willing to step up and volunteer for a role like this.”
“There is an Outer Islands Fire Brigade steering committee, with three members each from Sonora Island and Read Island.”
“The Surge Narrows Revitalization Project Committee had a meeting with SRD staff and myself.”
“Having local residents directly involved in providing input on these projects and communicating with SRD staff will support better outcomes, outcomes which will benefit the residents. So I’m really pleased that there are new and improved avenues for community consultation and inclusion.”
“One of my goals has been relationship building through clear communication. Every two weeks, I write a Director’s report which is published locally and also shared with email subscribers. I’ve had a fair amount of positive feedback on it, and I feel like my consistent reporting could go in the achievement column if you’re making columns for these kinds of things.”
CC: What have been the challenges this past year?
Robyn Mawhinney: “Something I have definitely learned, and been learning in the last year is what some staff have referred to as the speed of government. Many of the projects that I’ve been working on are still in progress.”
“You asked me about the challenges, and I think sometimes that challenges are opportunities in disguise. There’s been a lot of learning, stepping into the role of Director, learning the details of how all the processes work, and building relationships with colleagues, staff, other electeds, and constituents.”
“I think it’s interesting when I talk to staff who have been in their roles for decades and they say they are still consistently learning because there are so many situations that are unique and require novel considerations.”
“There’s lots of things in progress.”
“I’m not sure 2024 is going to resolve housing, but it’s definitely a key issue for Area C, the regional district and our country.”
CC: How has the electorate responded to the idea of an SRD Housing Service?
Robyn Mawhinney: “We learn the results of the SRD housing service at our January 24th board meeting. If it receives voter assent, the regional district can then officially engage in housing. Hopefully people can recognize that with the housing service, it’s intended to be cost neutral. Part of the reason of having a housing service is so that the regional district can be involved in housing, whether that’s applying for grants or or doing other things to support housing.”
“Then there’s two bylaws, you’ve probably noticed. And the second one is around a possibility that the regional district could take out a loan which could support a housing project. And when they say that’s intended to be cost neutral I think it’s because often societies, nonprofits and organizations need funding while they’re building it. Once it’s being built, the rentals of that project will then be paying back the loan, so it won’t necessarily be on the shoulders of the taxpayers for an extended period of time.”
“So housing is definitely in progress.”
“There are some fine folks on Quadra Island who have initiated the Discovery Islands Affordable Housing Society, and I’ve been attending their meetings. Hopefully when the society gets to the point of creating an affordable housing project, the housing service will be able to step in and provide bridge financing.”
“Solid waste is a pretty big deal on Quadra these days. There’s currently an Outer Islands feasibility study underway and a feasibility study requested for residential options for solid waste on Quadra Island.
“There’s active transportation lanes in progress. The first step in that is a transportation study to identify and prioritize the work. That study will be able to support grant applications. The transportation study was budgeted for in 2023. I believe it is getting underway shortly. I’m looking forward to community involvement in that and to ensure that we get the report right. Then we’ll have a solid study we can use to support applications for improvements. I’m not sure if it’s the same on Cortes where you are, but probably there’s a lot more commuting that’s been happening by bike and electric bike, and it would be really nice to support those alternate methods of transportation with safer lanes on the sides of roads.”
CC: I understand you were at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention in Vancouver during September?
Robyn Mawhinney: “I attended the UBCM for the first time and I had several meetings with ministries to represent Area C concerns. The meetings were to advocate for my community on topics which I’ve been engaging with residents on and as an electoral area director. I researched and wrote my own briefing notes for my meetings. I met with the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Transportation and I thought that some of those meetings were really productive and definitely provided more information for me and the community members that were looking for that. One of the things that I was talking to the Ministry of Forests about was watershed protection in rural areas.”
CC: Going forward, what do you hope to accomplish in 2024?
“I’m really excited about the Legal Talk History event, which is coming January 17th. Dr. Deidre Cullen is an anthropologist and she’s presenting on Legal Talk History. I believe she’s been working with the We Wai Kai Nation for about 20 years. It’s going to be a super opportunity for community learning and bridge building, and I’m really grateful to Chief Ronnie Chickite for supporting this event.”
“We’ve already talked about some of the things that are in progress, like housing, solid waste, and active transportation lanes.”
“There’s also more discussion about short term vacation rentals, which will be coming soon, and we’re still working on groundwater extraction bylaws.”
“There’s a really strong water security team on Quadra. They’ve just recently received some new grant funding. I believe they’re working with the We Wai Kai Nation on this new project. Eileen MacKay contacted me recently to tell me that the water security team is planning an event at the community center to discuss their new projects on March 9th at 11 AM.”
CC: I understand the Water Security team is monitoring some Quadra Island wells?
Robyn Mawhinney: “There’s something that’s actually installed in a well, which collects data. On the volume of water, or the height of water and the recharge. The data will be collected on a regular basis. I think there’s maybe 20 wells that they’re going to be collecting this information from over a year or 2, while they continue to collect this data more about the aquifers and how things are recharging and things like that.”
“They worked with the Vancouver Island University and did some work to map the aquifers that are under the south end of Quadra. I think the work has been centering on the area south of Hyacinth Bay because that seems to be different geologically, and where the majority of the people live. There’s more pressure on the aquifers down here. They’re also starting a wetlands mapping project. So they’ve got a lot going on.”
“Those are just a few of the things that are on my mind moving into 2024.”
Top image credit: Robyn Mawhinney at work with other members of the Quadra Island Trail Committee – Photo courtesy Roby Mawhinney
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