Postponed Parks & environment

Conservation area (OECM) management plans

Two $10,000 steps toward having Town lands recognized as conservation areas (OECMs). On July 23, 2025, each was moved one year later.

Amount
$20,000
Got
$0
Where it stands
Each year, 1 year later. Moved by the Eaglecrest funding plan, Jul 2025 ($10,000 in 2026, $10,000 in 2027).

What it is

OECM stands for "other effective area-based conservation measure." It is a Canadian term for land that protects nature well, even if that is not its main purpose. Canada counts these areas toward its conservation targets.

Council budgeted $10,000 in 2026 to study what OECM recognition of more Town land would require. It budgeted another $10,000 in 2027 to support possible applications. On July 23, 2025, Council moved these to 2027 and 2028. The resolution says each deferred item waits one year, or until the Strategic Initiatives Reserve is paid back from future land sales.

The item is called management plans, but the current budget is for study and applications. In 2023, staff estimated each full management plan at about $30,000.

What happened

  1. October 11, 2023Council unanimously authorized staff to include the Heritage Forest as an OECM, as proposed by the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region.
  2. November 10, 2023Staff suggested waiting until after the Park Inventory study. The item was listed for 2028 or later, with the Town open to starting sooner.
  3. October 2, 2024A research institute (MABRRI) and a partner offered, with federal funding, to assess five sites in town. Council referred this to strategic planning.
  4. October 21, 2024Staff suggested studying only the Grandon Creek Corridor first. The committee chose Community Park and Grandon Creek, with support for Milner Gardens, plus $10,000 in 2026 and $10,000 in 2027.
  5. December 11, 2024Council adopted the committee's recommendation.
  6. July 23, 2025Council moved the 2026 money to 2027 and the 2027 money to 2028 (4–1, Councillor Harrison opposed).
  7. April 1, 2026The 2026–2030 Financial Plan shows $10,000 in 2027 and $10,000 in 2028.

Why it matters

  • The federal government says OECM recognition adds no new limits or duties for the land or its owner.
  • Staff wanted to confirm that recognition would not limit other uses of Town land, such as water supply at the wellfields.
  • Staff said the Heritage Forest already has a management plan.
  • At the October 2024 meeting, a member of the public said they were disappointed the study was cut to three sites.
  • Staff said the Qualicum Commons lease and the Eaglecrest purchase were not in their work plans for 2025 or 2026, so other planned work had to move.

Sources

Last checked September 18, 2026. Report a mistake.