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Kinda misleading with the title.. but its written by a paper looking for headlines. All it is about, is continuing to allow recreational users into ares that they have been allowed into for years.
http://www.vancouversun.com/roaders+want+roll+into+Island+parks/2696463/story.html
The link to the story below is above
(hope I did this right, lol)
Theres a comments section...
Off-roaders want to roll into Island parks
BY BILL CLEVERLEY, TIMES COLONISTMARCH 18, 2010 8:26 AMCOMMENTS (60)
STORYPHOTOS ( 3 )
More Images »
Island all-terrain vehicle owners want access to backcountry trails and land but there is concern about environmental impact.
Photograph by: Debra Brash, Times Colonist
In what would be a reversal of policy, the Capital Regional District parks committee is talking about allowing recreational off-road vehicles into some wilderness park areas.
The committee has asked for investigation of the idea after hearing from representatives of off-road vehicle groups, who said that as former logging properties are sold and converted into parks, they have fewer places to go.
The topic came up amid discussion of a proposed management plan for Ayum Creek, Kapoor, Sea to Sea and Sooke Potholes regional parks. Following existing CRD policy, the plan calls for a ban on use of motorized vehicles in wilderness areas.
Several committee members said the CRD should try to accommodate recreation and preservation. "Christians were fed to the lions by a majority vote. That doesn't make it right," said Metchosin Mayor John Ranns. "So I don't think it's particularly right that we continually ignore the fact that motorized users are being squeezed right out."
Terrance Martin, who wants to turn the outback near Sooke into a destination for off-roaders, asked the committee to consider opening the Harbourview Road gate in Sooke for access to logging roads that were used by off-roaders for years -- before the CRD bought the property.
Dan McLaren of the Victoria Motorcycle Club, which leases about 1,000 hectares of Crown land near China Beach for recreational use, asked the CRD to work with off-roaders to resolve the issue of displaced users. He said the property is the last place off-roaders can go without trespassing.
Committee chairman Christopher Causton said he has met with the user groups and believes the solution lies not in CRD parks but on forest land. "The solution to this problem is actually in the hands of the forest companies and the province. ... We don't have any money to buy more land for this."
Ken Wu, of the Ancient Forest Alliance, said allowing off-road vehicles in a wilderness park is a bad idea. "They're generally regarded as a destructive element," said Wu.
[email protected]
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
http://www.vancouversun.com/roaders+want+roll+into+Island+parks/2696463/story.html
The link to the story below is above
(hope I did this right, lol)
Theres a comments section...
Off-roaders want to roll into Island parks
BY BILL CLEVERLEY, TIMES COLONISTMARCH 18, 2010 8:26 AMCOMMENTS (60)
STORYPHOTOS ( 3 )
More Images »
Island all-terrain vehicle owners want access to backcountry trails and land but there is concern about environmental impact.
Photograph by: Debra Brash, Times Colonist
In what would be a reversal of policy, the Capital Regional District parks committee is talking about allowing recreational off-road vehicles into some wilderness park areas.
The committee has asked for investigation of the idea after hearing from representatives of off-road vehicle groups, who said that as former logging properties are sold and converted into parks, they have fewer places to go.
The topic came up amid discussion of a proposed management plan for Ayum Creek, Kapoor, Sea to Sea and Sooke Potholes regional parks. Following existing CRD policy, the plan calls for a ban on use of motorized vehicles in wilderness areas.
Several committee members said the CRD should try to accommodate recreation and preservation. "Christians were fed to the lions by a majority vote. That doesn't make it right," said Metchosin Mayor John Ranns. "So I don't think it's particularly right that we continually ignore the fact that motorized users are being squeezed right out."
Terrance Martin, who wants to turn the outback near Sooke into a destination for off-roaders, asked the committee to consider opening the Harbourview Road gate in Sooke for access to logging roads that were used by off-roaders for years -- before the CRD bought the property.
Dan McLaren of the Victoria Motorcycle Club, which leases about 1,000 hectares of Crown land near China Beach for recreational use, asked the CRD to work with off-roaders to resolve the issue of displaced users. He said the property is the last place off-roaders can go without trespassing.
Committee chairman Christopher Causton said he has met with the user groups and believes the solution lies not in CRD parks but on forest land. "The solution to this problem is actually in the hands of the forest companies and the province. ... We don't have any money to buy more land for this."
Ken Wu, of the Ancient Forest Alliance, said allowing off-road vehicles in a wilderness park is a bad idea. "They're generally regarded as a destructive element," said Wu.
[email protected]
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist