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Public Safety & Security: FREQUENCY SEE NOTE
Firefighting and Rescue http://td> 1
Emergency/Disaster Staging Area http://td> 2
RCMP http://td> 3
Ambulance Servicess http://td>    
Public Services: FREQUENCY SEE NOTE
Telus http://td> 4
BC Hydro http://td>    
Inter-island access http://td>    
Parks Canada Daily 5
School water taxis Daily    
Mail & newspaper deliveries Daily    
Doctor, Nurse, Home Care services Weekly    
Environment Canada (Weather Station) Monthly    
CRD Water District services Monthly    
DFO (Fisheries) Intermittently    
DFO (Coast Guard) Intermittently    
Canadian Armed Forces Intermittently    
School Board meetings http://td>    
Transportation Services: FREQUENCY    
Water taxis http://td>    
Aviation services Daily    
Fuelling Daily    
Small island access (Samuels, King, Trevor, etc.) Intermittently    
Barging (ingress and egress) Intermittently    
Commercial Services: FREQUENCY    
Equipment and supplies Daily    
Wholesale and retail deliveries Daily    
General freight deliveries Weekly    
Fuel Barge deliveries Monthly    
Road repair equipment and personnel Intermittently    
Fishing boats retail sales Seasonally    
Recreational Services: FREQUENCY    
Pleasure boats http://td>    
Recreation activities (whale watching, kayak tours, etc) http://td>    
Tours http://td>    
Freighter crew access to shore Intermittently    
Social Services: FREQUENCY SEE NOTE
Wheelchair access http://td>    
Access to marine activities Daily    
Church services Weekly    
Community activities Intermittently 6
Santa Ship Yearly    


NOTES:
The term dock as used in this document encompasses both the wharfhead and the floating docks. The community recognizes that many of the uses listed above primarily involve the floating docks. However, access to the floating docks and full use of the facility is not possible without the wharfhead.
  1. See letter from Saturnas Assistant Fire Chief. The Saturna Fire Department is also responsible for protecting smaller adjacent islands. This requires the staging of men and materials from the wharfhead. In addition, an informal mutual aid agreement exists between the Saturna, Mayne and Pender Island Fire Departments. The wharfhead would be critical as a staging area for a sea lift operation and for evacuation of island residents and visitors. During the recent Saturna dock fire, the Pender Fire Department was on site and ready to assist if additional resources were needed to extinguish the fire, prevent it from spreading or contain any resulting explosion from nearby fuel tanks.

  2. In the event of a disaster, BC Ferries is the primary means of evacuation. Should BCF not be able to perform this function, the dock would provide alternate means of receiving supplies and equipment and provide an egress for people leaving the island. The wharfhead would be used to unload and organize supplies. It is the only facility capable of handling the population of the island as many residents could not exit via the beach. Even without a disaster, whenever BC Ferries is unable to provide service (e.g., during maintenance activities), the dock provides the only viable means for the public to leave the island.

  3. See letter from the RCMP. Requirement is for continual and as needed use, as there is no resident RCMP member on the island. There are regular service and patrols with the police vessel, which uses the dock and wharf facilities in conjunction with their business on Saturna.

  4. See letter from TELUS re: installation, repair and maintenance activities on Saturna. Their requirement is for loading and unloading of supplies and equipment, and access/use by their work vehicles. TELUS requests that the dock be returned to its pre-fire condition.

  5. See letter from Parks Canada. Parks will require daily use of the dock for resident personnel. Within the existing National Park areas (over 60% of the island), Parks Canada will be responsible for public safety, search and rescue, forest fire fighting and enforcement on Saturna and surrounding islands. Any of these components could necessitate use of the wharfhead.

  6. The dock is a focal point for the community. As such, it provides a public space belonging to everyone. Islanders recognize the many quantifiable uses of the dock but the vital aesthetic and quality-of-life values the dock provides should not be understated. The dock itself has tremendous value as a link to the past and as a vital connection between land and ocean activities. It is regularly used as both a dispersal area and as a promenade.


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This page was last updated on Thursday, 28-Jun-2007 15:39:56 PDT