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Ladysmith swimmers going for medals P. 5
Serving Ladysmith, Chemainus and area
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Artistic message on the wall: P. 10
Protesters on and off the water call for removal of Viki Lyne II Craig Spence the chronicle
People converged on and off the water Sunday afternoon to demand the removal of the Viki Lyne II – a derelict vessel a Canadian Coast Guard commissioned study has characterized as a ‘threat to the environment’ – from Ladysmith Harbour. Mayor Aaron Stone said Ladysmith is a ‘microcosm’ of communities all over B.C. and Canada, threatened by derelict vessels like the Viki Lyne, that have been abandoned in their waters. “Over the last hundred years we have transitioned from an industrial heritage to a new future of recreation, tourism and sustainability, including things like aquaculture,” Stone said. “These things are under direct threat by the Viki Lyne and the other vessels you see sunken around you here today.”
He said the cost of a clean-up if the Viki Lyne II sinks – which the Coast Guard commissioned study said is an ‘immanent’ risk – would be far more than the cost of removing her. “The budget and cost that would be involved for removing a vessel like the Viki Lyne II from our harbour will save a factor of ten times the cost of cleaning up that damage should she sink,” Stone said. A clean-up could also take years. “Now is the time for action; an ounce of prevention for a pound of cure,” he said. Grant Dobey, his family and friends, were among the boats that congregated to show their support for an initiative to get the Viki Lyne II removed. “I’m just frustrated by the inaction and runaround we get from the different agencies and governments when we try to get this problem dealt with,” he said. See Viki Lyne II, Page 3
People made their views about the derelict Viki Lyne II’s continued presence in Ladysmith Harbour Craig Spence known Sunday, July 19 at a protest on water and on land.
Ladysmith and North Oyster firefighters responded to a Friday morning blaze that engulfed a house at 326 Methuen Street. No-one was injured, but the house was severely damaged. Story page 3 Craig Spence
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