A longstanding conflict is reaching a boiling point as the City of Victoria prepares to evict permanently anchored boats from the Gorge waterway.
Last year, council passed a bylaw that would allow it to force overnight boaters out of the Gorge, but it didn’t have the authority to enforce it because the waterway wasn’t technically part of the city.
On Friday, the city said the waterway has now been moved into its jurisdiction so it can – and will – enforce the bylaw, starting in October.
“Basically we want to ensure that the water is clean and safe for everyone to enjoy,” said Coun. Jeremy Loveday. “It’ll start with education and discussions, and then there could be ticketing, that kind of thing. Eventually, boats could be moved along.”
There were no less than 20 boats in the harbour Friday, and some residents living nearby said some of them have been there for years.
“My concern is they’re living on them, so where does their effluent go?” said one homeowner.
But Mike Taylor, who said he has lived on a boat in the waterway for eight years, said he and other boaters living in the waterway take care of the area.
“We clean this up so you yuppies can have a nice little playground, so you can develop it all, so that you can have your little kayaking clubs,” Taylor said.
The boat owner said he doesn’t plan on leaving the waterway without a fight.
“That’s not going to happen without very serious repercussions. The people here are not the kind of people that are going to roll over and take that sort of thing. No,” he said. “I’ll tell you what kind of deal we’ll make with them. You want your god damn Gorge, fine, you’re going to pay to move everybody out of here where they want to move.”
The city has to finish paperwork to finalize the agreement, and then the province has 30 days to formally approve the jurisdictional change.
Victoria expects it will officially take effect around the end of October.
Loveday said the city will enforce the bylaw, but will only force out boat owners gradually.
He also said he personally thinks the city should help find the boat owners somewhere else to live or anchor their boats if they are forced to move.
