Wednesday August 10, 2022 | VIEW ROYAL, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Four parcels of land totalling 9.8 hectares adjacent to Mill Hill Regional Park have been acquired by the Capital Regional District (CRD), furthering rounding out the park’s hillside footprint.
The parcels include coastal Douglas-fir forest and arbutus stands.
The land was purchased from the Town of View Royal for $927,500.
Significant Garry Oak site:
“Mill Hill Regional Park is one of the most significant Garry Oak sites in the region and represents one of the highest concentrations of plant species at risk in British Columbia,” said Colin Plant, CRD Board Chair.
“This additional land helps to complete the Mill Hill Regional Park boundary and acts as a protective buffer for some of the high value rare plant species found there.”
The park also borders on the Langford municipality.
View Royal got the ball rolling:
The Town of View Royal approached the CRD with an interest in selling these properties to the CRD for consolidation with the Mill Hill Regional Park. View Royal is planning to reinvest the funds from the purchase of this land into the acquisition of other parkland within the Town.
“This sale to the CRD simply makes a lot of sense,” said View Royal Mayor David Screech. “It ensures continued public ownership of open space and the long-term management and maintenance by an organization that is well-equipped to take on this responsibility.” He sees that as a win-win for View Royal’s residents and the broader region.
Fish habitat benefits:
The Coastal Douglas-fir Biogeoclimatic Zone is home a significant number of species and ecosystems at risk, of which many are ranked globally as imperiled or critically imperiled.
These parcels also span both the Craigflower and Millstream Creek watersheds, which play important roles in nutrient cycling, downstream fish habitat, and water management.
Land Acquisition Fund:
This new parkland was purchased through the Land Acquisition Fund. The Capital Regional District (CRD), with the support of our partners, has acquired approximately 4,800 hectares of land through the Land Acquisition Fund since it was established in 2000.
The CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region.
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