“NO WAKE” Buoys are installed in Pender Harbour

“Slow-No Wake”  Buoys and signs are part of a Pender Harbour initiative to get boaters to slow down both to reduce damaging wakes and make the harbour a safe place for all water users. Summer is coming and everyone will be heading for the water.  It was initiated by the Pender Harbour Advisory Council in the hope that the buoys and signs will remind people to be respectful and safe boaters. The Council wants everyone to get home safe after wonderful day on the water.  Three buoys  were installed in Pender Harbour at a total cost of  $5,600.  In addition, 20 signs supporting the program were purchased by marinas and individuals and will be erected around the Harbour.
 
The Pender Harbour Advisory Council is grateful for the generous support it received from the Harbour Authority of Pender Harbour and Garden Bay Marine for the purchase and  installation of the buoys.  It would also like to thank all of the people who purchased signs in an effort to make the Harbour a safer place for resident and visiting boaters.
 
Accord According to the Harbour Authority of Pender Harbour, excessive speed, and large wakes seem to be on the increase in Pender Harbour. They state that  “Excessive speed is a safety hazard for small water craft, like kayaks and dinghies, which are hard to see in certain conditions; personal injury could result.  Large wakes cause serious damage to docks, gangways, electrical and water systems through wave action. Large waves can also cause serious injury to people. You are legally responsible for your wake.”  Some of the marinas in Pender Harbour are also warning their customers that their moorage could be cancelled if they are speeding in the Harbour.
 
 
If people are still interested in purchasing a sign they can contact Steve Luchkow at 604-883-2274 for details.
 

























Pender Harbour Hikers and Sunshine Coast Community Forest Contribute Trail Signage to the ​Community
The Pender Harbour Advisory Council, and the Pender Harbour Hikers, applied for, and received, $35,000 from the Sunshine Coast Community Forest Legacy Fund in 2015 for a project to enhance the signage in local forests for hikers and bikers.   The idea came about after a study done by the Sauder Business School pointed out our parks and trails could be a great economic driver IF they were mapped and well-marked.  The project will provide Pender Harbour with a legacy of:
  • 9 kiosks with detailed area trails maps (e.g. trails specific to Lions Park, Menacher Road, Middlepoint Road, Malaspina Substation, etc.) as well as trail maps for the entire Pender Harbour area at points along Highway 101 (Chamber of Commerce pull outs)
  • 4 heritage signs to educate hikers and bikers about the history of the PH area
  • 4 forestry signs to educate hikers and bikers about logging practises and importance to our community.
  • Enhanced signage on all the trails, including markers (“You are Here”) on major  trail spurs
We are working closely with the Sunshine Coast Trails Society to ensure our signage conforms to signage being installed on the entire Sunshine Coast.
Our progress to date (November 2015):
  • In order to get the project underway, members of PH Hikers had to GPS all the trails that had not been included on the Sunshine Coast Trails map.  This has taken a majority of the time since funding was received in Spring 2015.
  • Permission to erect kiosks has been requested, and received, from most of the land owners e.g. Department of Transport, Lions Club, SCRD.
  • Permission is pending from the Sechelt Indian Band to add a Welcome from them on the trail sign (in keeping with the Sunshine Coast Trails Society signs).
  • Most of the trails have been sign posted – with the majority of the work done out of Lions Park where the first trail kiosk will be erected (target: November 30).  There have been dozens of hours logged by volunteers from PH Hikers and other interested residents.
  • A group is working on designing and building the first kiosk; though the funding covered the cost of building 8 kiosks, a decision has been made to reuse the current structures in several locations including Madeira Park, Crossroads, Dan Bosch Park, etc.
  • We are working closely with the Living Heritage Society to determine location and content of new heritage signage.

According to Glen Bonderud, President and Chair of the Sunshine Coast Community Forest "the Sunshine Coast Community Forest , via the Legacy Fund, is very pleased to have helped fund the trails signage and make our community that much more attractive to visitors and residents."

For more information about the Pender Harbour Hikers or to help with the project contact Maureen at 604-883-2930