A recent road closure decision by North Cowichan council sparked renewed hope that the long-anticipated Chemainus seawalk would be created.
Council voted unanimously to close a portion of Esplanade Lane, near the hospital. That action was seen by some as a signal that construction of the seawalk was imminent.
No so fast, cautions Coun. Chris Istace, a Chemainus business owner.
“As much as I would love to see a seawalk, it’s still very much pie in the sky,” Istace says. “If I thought there was a chance of it happening, I would be on it every day.”
Istace’s says putting the road closure on the agenda was more of a housekeeping move and although it may prompt some other legal moves related to the adjacent property, residents hoping for a walkway on the ocean won’t be placated anytime soon.
“There are too many things to deal with, including private owners and the ongoing Hul’qumi’num treaty negotiations,” he added.
“It would be great to see. Crofton, Mill Bay, Maple Bay, they all have great seawalks.”
The idea of a Chemainus seawalk that would connect the area near the ferry terminal at the foot of Oak Street to Kin Beach has been batted around for years. In a 2011 report, the Municipality of North Cowichan gave some hope to proponents of a walkway.
A 66-page document, the Chemainus Town Centre Revitalization Plan, envisioned “525 metres of wooden boardwalk” that would capitalize on “one of Chemainus’ best kept secrets, its spectacular and varied waterfront.”
The reported identified the waterfront boardwalk as one of the most desirable potential projects in the minds of folks in Chemainus.
“The development of a waterfront boardwalk is clearly an important project for Chemainus residents,” the report stated.
Fifteen years later, no progress has been made on this and several other projects mentioned in the report, notably development of the benchlands property that runs alongside Chemainus Road between the Chemainus Theatre and the Best Western Hotel.