'Residents are clearly divided': BC Ferries halts terminal expansion on Denman Island after protests
CTV
BC Ferries is pumping the brakes on its plans to expand its ferry terminal on Denman Island following pushback from some residents.
BC Ferries is pumping the brakes on its plans to expand its ferry terminal on Denman Island following pushback from some residents.
BC Ferries has long planned to expand the terminal, but actual construction was delayed due to the pandemic, according to the ferry operator.
In 2017 and 2018, BC Ferries says, it completed community engagement on the project.
The engagement process found top concerns related to the ferry terminal were a lack of safe pick-up and drop-off zones, and traffic backups on the only road to and from the terminal, which is a residential two-lane street.
To address those concerns, BC Ferries started working on expanding the ferry terminal site this year. The project included plans for a new parking lot and the realignment of a nearby road to include a dedicated drop off and pick up zone.
The project was met with swift resistance, however, with some Denman Island residents occupying the work site and preventing heavy equipment and work trucks from accessing the site.
The demonstrators said they were pushing back against BC Ferries' plans to cut down more than 140 trees to make room for the project.
