For $1.3 million, you should be able to build a stairway to heaven 鈥� fixing the steps to the beach at Witty鈥檚 Lagoon Regional Park should cost a lot less than that.
The stairway at the end of Metchosin鈥檚 Witty Beach Road is a popular route to Witty鈥檚, and no wonder. It鈥檚 a lot faster way to get to the beach than the 1.2-kilometre trail from the park鈥檚 main parking lot, a hefty hike if you鈥檙e toting snacks, beach gear and small children. Cutting off the shorter access to the beach would discourage many families from visiting the popular beach.
The Capital Regional District closed the stairway last August, citing concerns about the stability of the slope. Engineers say stabilizing the slope and rebuilding the stairway would cost between $700,000 and $1.3 million. The parks committee has recommended removing the stairway.
Metchosin Mayor John Ranns says the CRD probably should have just fixed the stairway without asking for engineering assessments of the bank.
鈥淭hat bank has been there my entire life,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 walked up and down there when I was six years old. And I am convinced it will stay there long beyond my time, and yet, because there is the possibility it may slough, we [end up] doing something that really is a detriment to the public.鈥�
Public safety is an important government responsibility, so it would be difficult for the CRD to ignore the engineers鈥� report.
But is that particular slope in imminent danger of slumping? Or would it be a gradual process, allowing for measures to be taken to reduce risks?
Sometimes we are too risk-averse, as Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt points out. As a CRD director and a member of the parks committee, he voted against removing the stairs.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always a risk of slope failure,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut the safest thing from a standpoint of risk aversion would be to cut off all public access to all of our parks and to liquidate the park system. That鈥檚 not desirable for a number of reasons. So it鈥檚 all about what level of risk are we prepared to assume.鈥�
We do assume certain levels of risk. Every trail has roots and rocks that can trip us, or hanging branches that can poke us in the eye. Many trails in our regional parks give access to spectacular viewpoints where it is possible to fall from dangerous heights. But we should not close those trails or barricade access to high points.
Every trip to the beach carries with it the possibility of drowning or falling while climbing around on the rocks looking for critters. If we fenced off the ocean and built barriers around the rocks, those risks would be removed, but there would be little point to going there.
Outdoor recreation is a key component to our healthful lifestyle in this part of the world. The capital region is richly endowed with municipal, regional and provincial parks. We cannot make them risk-free, nor should we try.
Of course, we should not dismiss obvious and imminent dangers; reasonable precautions are common sense. But between utter recklessness and absolute paranoia is a broad territory where there is plenty of room to live.
Perhaps there鈥檚 even room for a stairway down to Witty鈥檚 Beach.
