City of Powell River officials have bought land next to Mowat Bay Park, a purchase that will make it possible to reconnect the 180-kilometre Sunshine Coast Trail.
Elected officials passed a motion to purchase the property for $140,469 at the October 3 council meeting. The funds are coming from the land sale reserve fund, which had a balance of $403,826.
The 6.5-hectare property has about 107 metres of frontage on Powell Lake. City council directed staff at an in-camera committee-of-the-whole meeting in August to make an offer on the property. The offer was accepted and subsequently the item was placed on the agenda for the October 3 council meeting.
According to a staff report, the property is often used by locals, without the owner’s authorization, as an extension of the adjacent city park. As well, previous owners allowed a right-of-way through the property for the Sunshine Coast Trail, but the most recent owners denied access, which meant hikers had to find their way over three kilometres through Cranberry to connect to the trail.
“Over the next 50 years, 100 years, it’s an ideal piece of property for the city, not just for trail access,” said Councillor Russell Brewer. “It’s on the east side of Mowat Bay, so it provides continuity to our existing park holding there and it provides continuity to Crown land within the [Powell River] Regional District.”
Brewer also said that he would love to build a zip line at that location. “It’s a great addition to city property, not just for continuity for the trail, which is obviously long-term potentially a good economic generator for us and tourism destination, but it doesn’t preclude opportunity to develop the upland part of that property down the road.”
Mayor Dave Formosa pointed out the price of the property had been significantly reduced from the original asking price. “Councillor Brewer and myself got pretty excited and we were able to share that excitement with council,” he said. “We were very lucky that we all agreed.”
Formosa also said the Sunshine Coast Trail is an important part the community, both for the city and the regional district. “It’s been many years in the making and it’s a very integral part of our tourism fabric and assets,” he said. “The Historic Townsite and the Sunshine Coast Trail are our top two assets.”
He recognized the loss of Tony’s Trail to the Sunshine Coast Trail was a huge problem and caused grief to visitors and locals. “It felt like the right thing to do, since this property became available,” he said. “It shows that the city is a solid contributor to the Sunshine Coast Trail. It was a pleasure to be able to be behind making that happen with council.”
Eagle Walz, president of Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society, expressed his gratitude to the city. “What a wonderful gift to the community, and what extraordinary support for recreation and tourism in our region,” he said. “We are delighted and thank our progressive city council for acquiring the Mowat Bay lot to re-establish a direct way through for hikers using the Sunshine Coast Trail from Mowat Bay toward Tony’s Point and Haywire Bay.”
If Tony Mathews, builder of this section of the trail, were still alive today, he would be very happy indeed, Walz added. “Not having been able to go through there for the last half dozen or so years had caused many trekkers to have great difficulties before finding the continuation of the trail up on Gallagher Hill. Many gave up looking and walked on the road to Haywire Bay instead to resume their hike on the SCT there. Now they can hike along the shores of Powell Lake again.”
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