Councillor floats fund to get rid of derelict boats

Saanich Coun. Judy Brownoff hopes senior governments can get on board a plan to pay for safe, sustainable and environmentally sound disposal of old boats.

In an interview, Brownoff said she hopes to see creation of a fund devoted to safely dealing with derelict vessels. The fund would receive money from small fees, or surcharges, paid at certain points in the life of a boat.

She said fees could be charged when a boat is purchased, registered, insured and moored at a marina. But such a move would need the federal and provincial governments because oceans and beaches are their respective jurisdictions.

Saanich has been afflicted with derelict boats washing up on its beaches, spilling everything from old fuel to used hypodermics left behind by previous users.

Two boats, including a concrete hulled vessel, have washed up in recent weeks on Cadboro Bay beach in Gyro Park. The municipality has received estimates of at least $50,000 and 200 hours of worker time to remove the vessels.

“That’s a lot of money and staff time that could have been used on things the municipality is actually responsible for, like roads and bike lanes,” said Brownoff.

Victoria also has been afflicted with scores of abandoned boats floating at anchor in the Gorge. Some of them have become squats and slum housing.

Brownoff said the issue is raised time and time again whenever coastal municipal officials meet.

She found a 2012 report by Transport Canada discussing the issue. Alarmingly, that report stated the majority of registered vessels in Canada are more than 30 years old, indicating the issue of derelict boats will probably get worse.

Brownoff said she will raise the issue at Saanich council in coming weeks and hopes it can be behind a serious push for support with groups such as the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities, the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Once those groups are on board they can help lobby the provincial and federal governments to set up a task force to devise and administer a fund to pay for the disposal of vessels at the end of their life.