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Port important now and in future

If we, the citizens, give up the Nanaimo Harbour port, what potential impact does this have on future generations on the Island?

Re: Councillor says Port Drive ready for development, March 16.

With all the preliminary work completed on the 1 Port Dr. site, there seems to be a push from city council to develop this section of land.

We are known as the Harbour City. After the decline in the forestry industry, the large industrial area representing the port has had decreased use. But Harbour Park Mall became Port Place. The theatre is called the Port Theatre. The event centre site was called 1 Port Dr. Does this not reflect the importance of that industrial land there? Even the First Nations and Hudson’s Bay Company knew the value as a port. The sea walk interpretive signs demonstrates the shipping and port history.

Presently the demand of the port is on the low side. Plans are to move a lot of the port facility to Duke Point.

However, that is now. If we, the citizens, give up the Nanaimo Harbour port, what potential impact does this have on future generations on the Island?

I would put to the citizens of Nanaimo that the present port needs to be held in trust for future generations. Duke Point supports some port functions. As the Island increases in population, our present Nanaimo Harbour port land will again be in demand.

Nanaimo provides the best harbours on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Nanaimo is and will continue to be a distribution and transportation centre of goods and services off and onto the Island, regionally and internationally.

I would suggest that Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada consider the value of this port land. The use of the land for port purposes must be considered before we start removing millions of dollars of containment material for other purposes. We do not need another Cameron Island housing project or similar use.

We need regional and national discussion on revitalizing the port aspect to serve Vancouver Island.

Bruce McInnisNanaimo