Thetis LTC to Minister of Forest-decision regarding rezoning application for section of Preedy Harbour

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Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
 
 
700 North Road, Gabriola Island, BC  V0R 1X3 
Telephone  250-247-2063    Fax  250-247-7514 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 604.660.2421  Elsewhere in BC 1.800.663.7867 
Email  northinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
November 20, 2023 File No: TH-RZ-2022.1; TH-6410-03 
 
Honourable Bruce Ralston 
Minister of Forests 
FOR.Minister@gov.bc.ca  
 
Dear Minister Ralston, 
 
Please be advised that on November 7, 2023, the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee advised staff to 
proceed no further with Oreste Panacui for Abrupt Shellfish, Inc. (Crown Land file 1414783) application 
to rezone 14 hectares of Marine area in Preedy Harbour, adjacent to Crescent Point, Thetis Island.  
 
The following motion was moved and carried unanimously: 
 
That the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee proceed no further with application TH-RZ-2022.1 for the 
following reasons: 
a. Inconsistent with the Thetis Island Official Community Plan No. 88; 
b. Inconsistent with the Islands Trust Policy Statement; 
c. Incompatible with adjacent land and recreational uses; and 
d. Potential risk to sensitive ecosystems. 
 
The Thetis Island Local Trust Committee asks the Minister to respect the Local Trust Committee’s 
rejection of this application and to deny issuance of the tenure for Crown Land File 1414783. 
 
The Applicant had made a very similar application in April 2020 which was denied for reasons much the 
same as the recent LTC decision. The reasons to proceed no further for the first application are listed 
below: 
 
 The large scale nature of the proposed commercial infrastructure of underwater staking netting 
and anchors. 
 The potential of the infrastructure materials becoming marine debris due to storms or marine 
fouling, and the potential negative impacts it may have on environmental/ecological features, 
flora and fauna; 
 Introduction of mooring buoys and navigational lights to the area and the negative impact to the 
Natural visual/scenic features of the area; 
 Potential hazards that the operation might be to navigation of the significant numbers of 
recreational boaters that frequent the area year round; 
 Potential conflicts with recreational uses and with adjacent upland properties that are zoned 
recreational or residential or recreation marine uses; 
 Potential negative impacts to local marine and adjacent upland tourism, associated commercial 
activities and the enjoyment of residential properties; 
 Conflict with Thetis Island Official Community Plan  Policy 2.7 Mariculture and; 
 There are potential conflicts with Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Islands Trust Policy Statement. 
 

 
Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
When the Local Trust Committee (LTC) received the recent application for rezoning, it was re

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